Are sex differences in blood cell count and hemoglobin moderated by the 2D:4D ratio? A cross-sectional study in a Ghanaian population.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

There are sex differences in blood cell count and hemoglobin (HGB) in adulthood due to differences in the levels of circulating sex hormones. The second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is the putative marker of prenatal hormone exposure. The 2D:4D or the right-left difference (Dr-l) are sexually dimorphic and are correlates of sex hormones in adulthood. The study sought to determine whether sex differences in adult blood cell count and HGB can be partly explained by the 2D:4D or Dr-l.

Methods

The study was cross-sectional between June and December 2021 at the University for Development Studies. The study involved 207 healthy participants (females = 113) aged from 18 to 32 years. The right-hand (2D:4DR), and the left-hand (2D:4DL) digit ratio and their diffe

SUBMITTER: Banyeh M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10476464 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature