Relationships Between the 2D:4D Digit Ratio, Waist Circumference, Hand Preferences, Weight, Height, Waist-to-Height Ratio and BMI in a Turkish Population

Abstract

The 2D:4D is thought as a biomarker for prenatal androgen exposure. Some studies have reported a significant difference between the sexes. Earlier studies reported variations in different ethnic and geographic groups. 2D:4D is related to several medical conditions including cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). The present study investigated the relationships between hand preference, ratio of the index finger (2nd digit: 2D) and ring finger (4th digit: 4D) lengths (2D:4D), height, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist circumference (WC) and weight, body mass index (BMI) in a Turkish population. The study comprised 118 healthy subjects (68 males and 50 females). 2D and 4D finger lengths and some anthropometric traits (height, weight, WC) were measured. The BMI and WHtR were calculated. Hand preference was determined by using a questionnaire (Edinburgh handedness inventory). Geschwind scores were calculated to evaluate the degree of hand preference. The mean age was 26.74 (female 27.86, male 25.89). The right hand 2D:4D was found significantly lower in males (0.9797) than in females (0.9922) (p< 0.001), but the left hand 2D:4D was insignificant. Significant correlations (negative) were observed between the 2D:4D (both left and right) and WHtR; the 2D:4D ratio (both left and right) and WC in males. However, in females, these correlations were insignificant. The R2D:4D was sexually dimorphic in a Turkish population. There were significant differences between strong right (SR) and weak left (WL) in terms of the R2D:4D. However only 5 subject's hand preference was found WL. Therefore, further studies are needed to determine the relationships between hand preference and R2D:4D in Turkish population. Further studies are needed to determine whether a larger sample population alters these possible associations between the ratio of 2D:4D and other investigated traits in a Turkish population.