OBJECTIVES: The 2nd to 4th digit ratio (2D:4D) is thought to reflect exposure to androgens during foetal development. This study examined the relationship between low (more masculine) and high (more feminine) 2D:4D and body size at different stages of the life course, adult testosterone levels and number of children among males. METHODS: Five hundred and fifty-eight men from rural Poland at the Mogielica Human Ecology Study Site participated in this study. Life history data and anthropometric measurements were collected. Salivary morning and evening testosterone levels among 110 men from the same population were measured. RESULTS: Low 2D:4D was related to higher birth weight (p = 0.04), higher birth length (p = 0.01), higher body mass during childhood and adolescence (p = 0.01), higher BMI (borderline significance, p = 0.06), higher number of children among fathers (p = 0.04) and higher testosterone levels during adulthood (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows, for the first time in a single population, that digit ratio is related to sub-adult body size at different stages of the life course, adult testosterone levels and number of children. The observed results suggest that digit ratio might be a valuable predictor of male body size and reproductive characteristics.
OBJECTIVES: The 2nd to 4th digit ratio (2D:4D) is thought to reflect exposure to androgens during foetal development. This study examined the relationship between low (more masculine) and high (more feminine) 2D:4D and body size at different stages of the life course, adult testosterone levels and number of children among males. METHODS: Five hundred and fifty-eight men from rural Poland at the Mogielica Human Ecology Study Site participated in this study. Life history data and anthropometric measurements were collected. Salivary morning and evening testosterone levels among 110 men from the same population were measured. RESULTS: Low 2D:4D was related to higher birth weight (p = 0.04), higher birth length (p = 0.01), higher body mass during childhood and adolescence (p = 0.01), higher BMI (borderline significance, p = 0.06), higher number of children among fathers (p = 0.04) and higher testosterone levels during adulthood (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows, for the first time in a single population, that digit ratio is related to sub-adult body size at different stages of the life course, adult testosterone levels and number of children. The observed results suggest that digit ratio might be a valuable predictor of male body size and reproductive characteristics.
Entities:
Keywords:
2D:4D; body size; number of children; rural population; testosterone
Authors: Nicole M Warrington; Enisa Shevroja; Gibran Hemani; Pirro G Hysi; Yunxuan Jiang; Adam Auton; Cindy G Boer; Massimo Mangino; Carol A Wang; John P Kemp; George McMahon; Carolina Medina-Gomez; Martha Hickey; Katerina Trajanoska; Dieter Wolke; M Arfan Ikram; Grant W Montgomery; Janine F Felix; Margaret J Wright; David A Mackey; Vincent W Jaddoe; Nicholas G Martin; Joyce Y Tung; George Davey Smith; Craig E Pennell; Tim D Spector; Joyce van Meurs; Fernando Rivadeneira; Sarah E Medland; David M Evans Journal: Hum Mol Genet Date: 2018-06-01 Impact factor: 6.150
Authors: Jannis Engel; Maria Veit; Christopher Sinke; Ivo Heitland; Jonas Kneer; Thomas Hillemacher; Uwe Hartmann; Tillmann H C Kruger Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2019-01-30 Impact factor: 4.241