Immune System Drives Male Attractiveness
Editor's ChoiceAcademic Journal
Main Category: Men's health
Also Included In: Endocrinology; Immune System / Vaccines
Article Date: 23 Feb 2012 - 10:00 PST
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opinions'Immune System Drives Male Attractiveness'
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Adult males with strong immune systems are seen as more sexually attractive to females, researchers from the University of Abertay Dundee, Scotland, wrote in the journal Nature Communications. They added that a strong immune system plays a greater role in attracting women to men, than great bodies or muscles.
There appears to be an association between testosterone levels, facial attractiveness, and cortisol, the authors informed. Cortisol is a stress hormone.
The researchers explain that men with healthy immune systems tend to have higher testosterone levels, and it is the healthier immune system that impacts on attractiveness.
A man's face is more attractive, usually, if he has high levels of testosterone. However, nobody has fully understood how testosterone affects immune function. Dr Fhionna Moore and team gathered data on the immune responses of 74 young adult Latvian males to a hepatitis vaccine. Their blood levels of cortisol and testosterone were measured. Latvian women in the same age group were asked to look at photographs of the men and rate them according to attractiveness (1 to 10 with 10 being the most attractive).
The researchers found that:
- Males with a strong immune response had higher levels of testosterone
- Males with a strong immune response, higher levels of testosterone were given the highest attractiveness ratings by the women
- Lower testosterone levels were linked to higher cortisol levels. The researchers suggest that cortisol inhibits immune response
The authors suggest that human females may be following a similar instinct seen in other animals, such as birds, namely seeking out mates who can pass on their healthy immune system genes.
Birds tend to seek out male mates that can pass on good immune system genes to their offsprind
The team are soon to determine whether their findings are the same across different cultures and age groups.
In an Abstract in the journal, the authors wrote:
"We conclude that our results provide support for a role of glucocorticoids in hormonally mediated sexual selection."
Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Markus J. Rantala, Fhionna R. Moore, Ilona Skrinda, Tatjana Krama, Inese Kivleniece, Sanita Kecko & Indrikis Krams
Nature Communications 3, Feb 21, 2012. Article number: 694. doi:10.1038/ncomms1696
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26 May. 2012. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/242089.php>
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http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/242089.php.
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Visitor Opinions (latest shown first)
For Those Who Think They Know The Mind Of G-d
posted by Dr. Ken on 2 Mar 2012 at 4:12 pmThe Rev.'s view is amazing. His small dated view of G-d is quite sad. Part of knowing G-d, is knowing and understanding the world. In a word, accept G-d's creation!
"Temptations of the flesh"
posted by GEORGE PEDRAJA on 23 Feb 2012 at 12:14 pmRev. William Claridge be aware there is a growing group of non-believers in the USA and we do not want you to speak for us. see us at the
REASON RALLY - IN WASHINGTON DC ON MARCH 24 2012
Thank you for the enlightening post Reverend.
posted by thyrodent on 23 Feb 2012 at 12:11 pmI understand how information like this could be offensive to members of your congregation. After all, who cares what causes people to be attracted to each other. Such blasphemy! A woman's opinion on who she's attracted to matters little in God's eyes. It's who her family tells her she will marry, that's what counts. Otherwise how would rejects from the 1600's like yourself reproduce? I have an idea, leave the science to people that are mentally stable, and you stick to warning people about the monsters under the stairs. Thanks.
mmm...flesh
posted by tc on 23 Feb 2012 at 11:56 ammmm...flesh... :D
Sorry you're offended rev. but it makes perfect sense. Fitness includes the immune system. Women can sense men who won't be sick in bed all the time, and find them attractive.
Seriously, how can that be bad? Do you want sick children and a sick family?
It's a sin to not have faith in the gifts our creator(s?) have bestowed on us.
whaaaa?
posted by elena on 23 Feb 2012 at 11:54 amWhat do you mean? I think you just don't get the article.
Hogwash
posted by Adam Taylor on 23 Feb 2012 at 11:49 amThat, I believe, is wildly inaccurate and modern science has pretty thoroughly debunked that theory. Low testosterone has been linked to cardiac dysfunction, premature death by a myriad of causes, depression, cancers and the like.
The new research suggests that low testosterone/higher estrogen is a more likely culprit in the development of prostate cancer than DHT, which was originally believed to have caused the problem.
Low testosterone is a treatable medical condition that has great concern for alarm.
Danger of data and your horrible logic
posted by Michel Triana on 23 Feb 2012 at 11:49 amThis is an un-scientific article, and a badly written one. Starting with the title 'Immune system drives Male attractiveness' WTF? The research DOES NOT suggests that at all.
The author's basic logic is seriously flawed. Based on the same logic you could have write this, and it's just as logically correct:
'Men with 2 feet are more attractive to women than those with only one foot. Therefore we conclude that the number of feet in men drive hotness'
Having access to data is dangerous in the wrong hands. This is pure bad journalism.
Temptations of the flesh
posted by Rev. William Claridge on 23 Feb 2012 at 11:44 amHow are we to reach God with such experiments on basic human sin? This kind of research is not only offensive to me and many in my congregation, it encourages desires of the flesh - a backward step for man!
What about women's immune system
posted by Amanda Gareth on 23 Feb 2012 at 11:41 amIt will be interesting to see whether it works the other way round. Do human males seek out females with stronger immune systems?
Attractiveness and immune system
posted by Dr. Barry Sommer on 23 Feb 2012 at 11:38 amIt makes sense. Good to see it is being confirmed in science. Perhaps, this might make men do more exercise, eat properly, and get the right amount of sleep - all factors in improving the immune system.
I thought it was the other way around
posted by 12AM on 23 Feb 2012 at 11:38 amI've read in Genome, a book by Matt Ridley that testosterone inhibits immune response just as cortisol does, possibly a factor into why men have shorter life spans.
Who is paying for this?
posted by mark on 23 Feb 2012 at 11:14 amNot public funds I hope. These people need to go back to med school and find real cures for real problems.
total b.s.
posted by kevin on 23 Feb 2012 at 11:11 amWow. This is a joke. Total B.S. Don't these "scientists" have anything better to do!?
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