Often called the silent killer, high blood pressure is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Many people cannot feel the symptoms of high blood pressure, but it can lead to significant complications including kidney disease, pulmonary clotting concerns, strokes, and heart attacks. Some people have high blood pressure that is difficult to treat, and preventative measures may not work well enough.
Now, there is a study showing that the Klotho protein might have an impact on high blood pressure readings. This is an anti-aging protein that has been a significant area of research during the past few years. It acts as a hormone, is secreted from the kidneys, and decreases with age. As people get older, their levels of Klotho protein begin to drop. There is some correlation between levels of this protein and the development of medical complications. Now, this includes the rise of high blood pressure.
There is a direct relationship between salt intake and high blood pressure. The more salt people consume, the higher their blood pressure becomes. Furthermore, research has also shown that younger people are less susceptible to the development of high blood pressure. A team of researchers showed that salt sensitivity increases in animals as they get older. In the study, mice were used as the research model. As the mice got older, their sensitivity to salt increased, making it easier for the mice to develop high blood pressure. In addition, the researchers found that older mice had lower levels of the Klotho protein, suggesting that levels of this specific protein can impact salt sensitivity.
Finally, the researchers also found that supplementation of Klotho protein could reduce the development of hypertension in these mice. As a result, Klotho protein levels could be used as a predictive marker for the development of hypertension.
There are more research studies that need to be completed moving forward. Researchers need to make sure that the results they found in the mice hold true in the human population. If the results are repeatable, it could provide a new way to predict who might develop high blood pressure. Furthermore, this could help medical professionals and structure a diet surrounding salt intake and the prevention of hypertension. This has the potential to prevent the development of other medical complications as well, including kidney damage, brain damage, and cardiovascular concerns.