Low digit ratio (2D:4D) and late pubertal onset indicate prenatal hyperandrogenziation in alcohol binge drinking

Lenz, Bernd; Bouna-Pyrrou, Polyxeni; Mühle, Christiane; Kornhuber, Johannes

doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.02.012

Cited by 24 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…The 7.6% prevalence of DSM‐IV alcohol dependence observed in this study cohort of young males is consistent with other population‐based estimates (4.6% to 6.1% for males and females combined, aged 21‐29 years, Germany; 6.1% for males, all age groups combined, Europe). Moreover, the R2D:4D and L2D:4D medians of 0.985 and 0.986 in this investigation agree with the median R2D:4D and L2D:4D values of 0.988 and 0.987 in a previous study using a similar self‐measurement method and with the means from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Internet study of 0.984 and 0.985 . These consistencies confirm the validity and the reliability of our measures and support that the analyzed cohort can be considered as representative of the population.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…Similar to the methods described by Reimers and Lenz et al the participants were instructed to document the lengths of their index and ring fingers in millimeters separately for their right and left hands (Questionnaire 3 ID: J18). As in previous studies, we excluded finger lengths under 10 mm or over 100 mm and, additionally, 2D:4D values that fell outside of the 2.5 and 97.5 percentiles . We selected the mean of right‐hand 2D:4D and left‐hand 2D:4D (M2D:4D) to serve as our primary indicator and right‐hand 2D:4D (R2D:4D), left‐hand 2D:4D (L2D:4D), and the difference between R2D:4D and L2D:4D (2D:4Dr‐l) as exploratory predictors.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lower digit ratio (2D:4D) in alcohol dependence: Confirmation and exploratory analysis in a population‐based study of young men

2019

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Moderately sized, case‐control studies have related alcohol dependence in middle‐aged in‐patients to lower second‐to‐fourth finger length ratio (2D:4D), a proxy for prenatal hyperandrogenization. As primary aim, we here intended to confirm that lower 2D:4D is also associated with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)–IV/‐5 alcohol dependence and alcohol use disorder in a large population‐based cohort of young males. Exploratory aims included underlying mechanisms. We analyzed self‐reported data on 2D:4D, DSM‐IV/‐5 criteria, anticipated subjective responses to alcohol, and willingness to purchase alcoholic drinks from 4989 Swiss men of the Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors (C‐SURF). The mean of right‐hand 2D:4D and left‐hand 2D:4D was lower in men with DSM‐IV alcohol dependence than in those without (0.975 vs 0.981, P = .035) and lower in men with moderate to severe (0.974) than in those with mild (0.982, P = .001) or no (0.981, P = .003) DSM‐5 alcohol use disorder. Moreover, mean 2D:4D was lower in those reporting recent use of health services due to substance use problems (0.968 vs 0.981, P = .046). Lower mean 2D:4D correlated with a stronger anticipation to feel high following alcohol consumption (total cohort: ρ = −0.033, P = .026) and with a willingness to purchase more higher‐priced alcoholic drinks (DSM‐IV alcohol dependence subgroup: ρmin = −0.162, P = .002). This is the first population‐based study on young males to demonstrate lower 2D:4D in DSM‐IV alcohol dependence, DSM‐5 alcohol use disorder, and the related use of health care services. We also provide novel insight into cognitive‐behavioral mechanisms. These results should help to establish more effective preventive and therapeutic strategies targeting 2D:4D and prenatal androgen exposure.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lower digit ratio (2D:4D) in alcohol dependence: Confirmation and exploratory analysis in a population‐based study of young men

2019

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“…The largest GWAS on 2D:4D so far only shows a slight positive influence of CAG repeats in women, but not in men (Warrington et al 2018 ). 2D:4D may thus be determined by not only prenatal testosterone, but also other factors, such as prenatal corticosterone (Lilley et al 2010 ), prenatal stress (Lenz et al 2017 , 2018b ), and genetic factors (Ramesh and Murty 1977 ; Paul et al 2006 ; Voracek and Dressler 2007 , 2009 ; Warrington et al 2018 ). Future studies should define the factors influencing 2D:4D in addition to testosterone.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Digit ratio (2D:4D) in relation to substance and computer use: a meta-analysis

et al. 2019

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Human studies have reported inconsistent associations between the length ratio of the second finger to the fourth finger (2D:4D), which is a proxy for prenatal androgen load, and substance or computer use in adolescents and adults. This metaanalysis quantifies the magnitude of this relationship and investigates the roles of sex, definition of caseness, different forms of addiction, the hand measured (right hand versus left hand), and other cohort characteristics. Univariate random-effects meta-analyses were performed, and moderators were tested with Bonferroni-corrected meta-regression analyses. The study included 18 independent samples with a total of 175,955 participants (96,316 males and 79,639 females). There was a significant difference in 2D:4D between the substance and computer-using subjects and the controls for the combined sample (Hedge's g = − 0.178 [− 0.291; − 0.064]) and for males (Hedge's g = − 0.260 [− 0.399; − 0.122]), but not for females. These effects were amplified when only analyzing studies that compared dependent versus non-dependent subjects (combined sample: g = − 0.325 [− 0.492; − 0.157]; males: g = − 0.427 [− 0.564; − 0.291]), but did not reach significance in the subgroup of studies examining other parameters of substance and computer use. When analyzing different forms of substance and computer use separately, alcohol intake and computer use revealed a significant difference in the standardized mean. Again, the effects were amplified when analyzing the subgroup of males and the subgroup of studies comparing dependent versus non-dependent subjects, with effect sizes showing Hedge's g values as many as − 0.552 [− 0.785; − 0.319] (alcohol-dependent males). Thus, this meta-analysis confirms that lower 2D:4D is associated with substance and computer dependency. Further studies are encouraged to explore the link between intrauterine hormone environment and addiction risk.

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“…Thus, lifelong smaller body measurements, which were observed here in alcohol dependence, may result from both a later pubertal onset and factors that reinforce estrogen signaling during puberty that may prematurely terminate the growth of the body. With regard to pubertal onset, we have already shown that male alcohol-dependent in-patients and male binge drinkers report a later age at puberty onset than control males [24,29], which may result in shorter body measurements. In addition, we hypothesize a premature termination of pubertal growth in the group of alcohol-dependent in-patients.…”

Section: Possible Reasons For Smaller Body Dimensions In Alcohol Depementioning

confidence: 96%

“…The second-to-fourth finger length ratio (2D:4D) has been proposed as a proxy for the intrauterine sex hormone exposure, with lower values indicating prenatal hyperandrogenization [14,15] (for a critical review see [16,17]). Lower 2D:4D has been associated with a whole range of impairments such as behavioral problems in childhood [18], video game addiction [19], problematic and pathological internet use during adolescence [20], suicide in adulthood [21,22], and reduced life expectancy [23][24][25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Basic Human Body Dimensions Relate to Alcohol Dependence and Predict Hospital Readmission

Lenz

Köllner

Mühle

et al. 2019

JCM

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Alcohol dependence is a severe mental illness and there is a need for more effective preventive and therapeutic strategies. Translational research suggests that intrauterine sex hormone exposure modulates the risk and course of alcohol dependence during adulthood. During development, sex hormones permanently shape sexually dimorphic body dimensions. Thus, these dimensions may provide insight into sex hormone organization. Here, we compared body measurements (absolute, relative to, and residualized on height) between 200 alcohol-dependent in-patients and 240 age-matched healthy control subjects and investigated how these measurements associate with the patients’ prospective 12- and 24-month outcome. The results show that alcohol dependence is related to lower absolute, relative, and residualized body measurements for height and weight, head circumference, bitragion head arc, lip-chin distance, hip, thigh, and calf circumference, and foot length and breadth. In male alcohol-dependent in-patients, higher risk, shorter latency, and more alcohol-related readmissions were predicted by higher absolute, relative, and residualized thigh and calf circumferences. The second-to-fourth finger length ratio, a putative proxy for prenatal sex hormone organization, was not convincingly correlated with the body dimensions, suggesting that the results represent pubertal (or later) effects. The study’s findings have implications for further research. The body measurements’ high accessibility may facilitate the future transition into clinical settings.

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Low digit ratio (2D:4D) and late pubertal onset indicate prenatal hyperandrogenziation in alcohol binge drinking

Abstract: Our results indicate that increased prenatal androgen exposure is involved in the development of alcohol binge drinking behavior in adults.

Cited by 24 publications

References 73 publications

Lower digit ratio (2D:4D) in alcohol dependence: Confirmation and exploratory analysis in a population‐based study of young men

Lower digit ratio (2D:4D) in alcohol dependence: Confirmation and exploratory analysis in a population‐based study of young men

Digit ratio (2D:4D) in relation to substance and computer use: a meta-analysis

Basic Human Body Dimensions Relate to Alcohol Dependence and Predict Hospital Readmission

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