Blair Crewther1, Christian Cook2, Liam Kilduff3, John Manning4. 1. The Hamlyn Centre, Imperial College, London, UK. Electronic address: bcrewthe@imperial.ac.uk. 2. The Hamlyn Centre, Imperial College, London, UK; School of Sport, Health and Exercise Science, Bangor University, Gwynedd, UK. 3. Applied Sports Technology, Exercise and Medicine Research Centre, Swansea University, Swansea, UK. 4. Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:Digit ratio (2D:4D) is a marker for prenatal sex steroids and a correlate of sporting performance. This association may exist because low 2D:4D is linked to high prenatal levels of testosterone (T) and low oestrogens (E). It was recently suggested that low 2D:4D, and particularly low right-left 2D:4D (or Dr-l), is a marker for T changes in response to physical and aggressive challenges. If correct, this link may in part explain the association between 2D:4D and sports performance. AIMS: We tested this hypothesis in adults. STUDY DESIGN: Three experimental treatments were completed using a randomised, cross-over design; (i) cycle sprints plus an aggressive video (S+V), (ii) aggressive video plus cycle sprints (V+S), and (iii) a control session. SUBJECTS:24 healthy adults (12 men and 12 women). OUTCOME MEASURES: Salivary T, oestradiol (E2) and cortisol (C) levels were measured on six occasions across each session and pooled for analysis. RESULTS: The S+V treatment was associated with a rise in T and C levels, and Dr-l was significantly and negatively correlated with T and E2 with these effects confined to men. The right 2D:4D and Dr-l were also negatively correlated with the T/C ratio and Dr-l negatively related to the E2/C ratio in men during the S+V treatment. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the hormonal responses to a challenge are programmed by prenatal levels of T and E with possible links to sporting performance in adulthood.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Digit ratio (2D:4D) is a marker for prenatal sex steroids and a correlate of sporting performance. This association may exist because low 2D:4D is linked to high prenatal levels of testosterone (T) and low oestrogens (E). It was recently suggested that low 2D:4D, and particularly low right-left 2D:4D (or Dr-l), is a marker for T changes in response to physical and aggressive challenges. If correct, this link may in part explain the association between 2D:4D and sports performance. AIMS: We tested this hypothesis in adults. STUDY DESIGN: Three experimental treatments were completed using a randomised, cross-over design; (i) cycle sprints plus an aggressive video (S+V), (ii) aggressive video plus cycle sprints (V+S), and (iii) a control session. SUBJECTS: 24 healthy adults (12 men and 12 women). OUTCOME MEASURES: Salivary T, oestradiol (E2) and cortisol (C) levels were measured on six occasions across each session and pooled for analysis. RESULTS: The S+V treatment was associated with a rise in T and C levels, and Dr-l was significantly and negatively correlated with T and E2 with these effects confined to men. The right 2D:4D and Dr-l were also negatively correlated with the T/C ratio and Dr-l negatively related to the E2/C ratio in men during the S+V treatment. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the hormonal responses to a challenge are programmed by prenatal levels of T and E with possible links to sporting performance in adulthood.
Authors: Jakub Grzegorz Adamczyk; Krzysztof Safranow; Antoni Kazimierz Gajewski; Dariusz Boguszewski; Henryk Sozański; Ireneusz Sołtyszewski; Beata Pepłońska; Paweł Cięszczyk; Marcin Siewierski; Cezary Żekanowski Journal: J Hum Kinet Date: 2021-03-31 Impact factor: 2.923