Digit Ratio (2D:4D) and Physical Performance in Female Olympic Athletes

Eklund, Emma; Ekström, Lena; Thörngren, John‐Olof; Ericsson, Magnus; Berglund, Bo; Hirschberg, Angelica Lindén

doi:10.3389/fendo.2020.00292

Cited by 29 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 43 publications

(72 reference statements)

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“…There may be associations between high income, good nutrition and the production of androgens in women. Elite women athletes with high standards of nutrition and in good condition (with high lean mass and low body fat levels) show negative relationships between their 2D:4D and the breakdown products of T (Eklund et al, 2020) or salivary levels of T (Crewther & Cook, 2019). It appears that women in good condition can, and probably do, secrete elevated levels of T, particularly if they have low 2D:4D.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parental income inequality and children’s digit ratio (2D:4D): a ‘Trivers-Willard’ effect on prenatal androgenization?

et al. 2021

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Income inequality is associated positively with disease prevalence and mortality. Digit ratio (2D:4D) – a negative proxy for prenatal testosterone and a positive correlate of prenatal oestrogen – is related to several diseases. This study examined the association of income inequality (operationalized as relative parental income) and children’s 2D:4D. Participants self-measured finger lengths (2D=index finger, and 4D=ring finger) in a large online survey conducted in July 2005 (the BBC Internet Study) and reported their parents’ income. Children of parents of above-average income had low 2D:4D (high prenatal testosterone, low prenatal oestrogen) while the children of parents of below-average income had high 2D:4D (low prenatal testosterone, high prenatal oestrogen). The effects were significant in the total sample, present among Whites (the largest group in the sample), in the two largest national samples (UK and USA) and were greater for males than females. The findings suggest a Trivers-Willard effect, such that high-income women may prenatally masculinize their sons at the expense of the fitness of their daughters. Women with low income may prenatally feminize their daughters at the fitness expense of their sons. The effect could, in part, explain associations between low income, high 2D:4D (low prenatal testosterone) and some major causes of mortality such as cardiovascular disease.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parental income inequality and children’s digit ratio (2D:4D): a ‘Trivers-Willard’ effect on prenatal androgenization?

et al. 2021

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“…Urinary sulphate metabolite levels [testosterone–sulphate (T–S), epitestosterone-sulphate (EpiT-S), androsterone-sulphate (ADT-S), and etiocholanolone-sulphate (Etio-S)], were analyzed using LC-MS/MS at the WADA accredited anti-doping Laboratory at the Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm as previously described ( Mullen J.E. et al, 2017 ; Eklund et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The present study population included 94 female Olympic athletes and 86 controls, from which urinary samples were available for analysis. Serum androgen levels and urinary sulphate levels were previously analyzed (Eklund et al, 2017(Eklund et al, , 2020 and are here presented for the same 94 athletes and 86 controls included in the current study.…”

Section: Study Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urinary Steroid Profile in Elite Female Athletes in Relation to Serum Androgens and in Comparison With Untrained Controls

et al. 2021

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IntroductionIn female athletes, the interpretation of doping tests is complex due to hormonal variations during the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptive use, both influencing the urinary steroid profile. Exercise is suggested to affect circulating steroid hormone levels, and in women, the urinary steroid profile differs between in competition testing and out of competition testing. No previous study has investigated the relationship between amount of exercise and the urinary steroid profile in female elite athletes.PurposeTo compare the urinary steroid profile between female Olympic athletes and age- and BMI-matched untrained controls, and to study the urinary steroid profile in relation to serum hormones and amount of exercise.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study conducted at the Women’s Health Research Unit, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, 94 female elite athletes and 86 untrained controls were included. Serum estrogens and testosterone and the urinary steroid profile were analyzed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. Exercise hours/week were evaluated by questionnaire.ResultsAlthough serum steroid hormones were comparable between groups, the athletes demonstrated approximately 30% lower urinary steroid metabolites of testosterone, epitestosterone, androsterone, etiocholanolone, 5α-androstan-3α, 17β-diol, and 5β-androstan-3α, 17β-diol compared to the controls. The urinary steroid metabolites correlated positively with serum steroid hormones. In the athletes, urinary steroid metabolites: androsterone (rs = −0.28, p = 0.007), epitestosterone (rs = −0.22, p = 0.034), 5αAdiol (rs = −0.31, p = 0.002) and testosterone (rs = −0.24, p = 0.026), were negatively correlated with amount of training (hours per week).ConclusionThe urinary concentrations of steroid metabolites were lower in elite athletes than in sedentary controls, although serum steroids were comparable between groups. Moreover, exercise time was negatively associated with the urinary concentrations. Our findings suggest alternative excretion routes of androgens in the athletes related to training.

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“…Several studies show that male achievement in sports and athletics is correlated with a lower 2D:4D ratio [ 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Recently, associations between the 2D:4D ratio and high performance were demonstrated in female athletes for rowing [ 32 ], Olympic sports [ 33 ], and football [ 34 ]. Following these correlations, we also included this metric.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mood States and Performance in Elite Canoe Polo Players: The Mediating Role of Stress

Corrado

Buscemi²,

Magnano

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Sport performance is characterized by competitive stressful conditions that elicit emotional states. The purpose of the study was to examine whether stress mediated the relationship between mood states and performance. Thirty-two elite canoe polo players from four different Italian teams (16 senior males and 16 senior females), aged between 29 and 38 years old (M = 32.3, SD = 2.71), participated in the study. Measures included level of psychological stress, six mood dimensions, and performance outcome. We also detected the digit ratio—the lower second-to-fourth digit length (2D:4D) ratio—as it was demonstrated to be correlated to high sports performance. The assessment took place one day before the first game of the national competition “ITALY CUP”. Male athletes reported lower scores on dysfunctional emotion-related states and on 2D:4D ratio than female athletes. The results of the mediation analysis showed that psychological stress plays a mediating role between moods and performance. Overall, given the limited literature, the findings supported an integrative approach to the study of the linkage between emotion and action in canoe polo.

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Digit Ratio (2D:4D) and Physical Performance in Female Olympic Athletes

Cited by 29 publications

References 43 publications

Parental income inequality and children’s digit ratio (2D:4D): a ‘Trivers-Willard’ effect on prenatal androgenization?

Parental income inequality and children’s digit ratio (2D:4D): a ‘Trivers-Willard’ effect on prenatal androgenization?

Urinary Steroid Profile in Elite Female Athletes in Relation to Serum Androgens and in Comparison With Untrained Controls

Mood States and Performance in Elite Canoe Polo Players: The Mediating Role of Stress

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