Serum clotho, vitamin D, homocysteine levels and their relationship with clinical variables in patients with depression aged 18-65 years compared with healthy groups

In our study, data from 30 patients aged between 18-65 years with depression and 30 healthy individuals in a similar age group were prospectively collected between July 2022 and May 2023, and their serum α-klotho, homocysteine, and vitamin D levels were compared. The mean age of the patients was 41.8±12.7, while the mean age of the control group was 36.9±11.1. Among the patients, 90% were female and 10% were male. The average body mass index (BMI) of the patients was 27.4±7.0, whereas it was 23.9±4.6 in the control group. In terms of marital status, 33.3% of the patients and 53.3% of the control group were single. Regarding income levels, 30% of the patients had a low income, 66.7% had a medium income, and 3.3% had a high income, while in the control group, 10% had a low income, 76.7% had a medium income, and 13.3% had a high income. In terms of education level, 63.3% of the patients had an education level of middle school or below, 16.7% were high school graduates, and 20% were university graduates, while in the control group, 60% had an education level of middle school or below, 10% were high school graduates, and 30% were university graduates. A psychiatric family history was present in 43.3% of the patients, compared to 20% in the control group. The patients' mean Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score was 24.8±9.4, while it was 5.5±3.7 in the control group. The mean Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) score of the patients was 20.5±11.2, compared to 5.5±4.5 in the control group. The mean Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) score of the patients was 18.6±6.7, while it was 1.9±2.2 in the control group. In our study, although no significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of vitamin D and homocysteine levels, serum soluble α-klotho levels were found to be significantly lower in the patient group. Homocysteine levels were significantly higher in males. Although our study found a significant association between depression and only α-klotho levels, numerous studies in the literature report the roles of all three biomarkers in the etiopathogenesis of depression. Due to the high variability of subvariables in psychiatric disorders such as depression, further studies with larger and more homogeneous patient groups are needed to better understand the role of biomarkers. Keywords: Depression, Klotho, Vitamin D, Homocysteine