Abstract
BACKGROUND: To discover simple biomarkers to evaluate the aging or quality of human oocytes and clinical pregnancy rates is needed. However, the association among serum α-klotho concentrations during preimplantation, the aging or quality of human oocytes and clinical pregnancy rates has not been investigated. FINDINGS: The serum α-klotho concentrations during preimplantation decreased due to aging (p < 0.001), whereas the maturation rates of human oocytes (p < 0.001) and the fertilization rates (p < 0.001) improved in association with increased serum α-klotho concentrations. Furthermore, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the clinical pregnancy rates were influenced by serum α-klotho concentrations during preimplantation (p < 0.001), the patient's age (p = 0.003), maturation rates of human oocytes (p < 0.001), fertilization rates (p < 0.001) and the serum 25 (OH) D levels (p < 0.001) regardless of race (p = 0.29) and BMI (p = 0.96). CONCLUSION: The serum α-klotho concentrations during preimplantation would be a simple biomarker in order to predict the aging or quality of human oocytes and clinical pregnancy rates.