Digit Ratio [2D:4D] as Predictor of Body Composition Among School Children

Abstract

Digit ratio is known to be an indicator of prenatal testosterone and had been hypothesized that the length of the 2nd and 4th digits [2D:4D] is correlate with prenatal hormone and sexually dimorphic among children and stable with growth. This study aims to investigate the association of 2D:4D with body composition among school children. Digit ratio [2D:4D] had been shown previously to stimulate anabolic process in skeletal muscle and appears to be principal hormone negatively associated with changes in overall adiposity. It is not known whether these associations also extend to male and female school children body composition. In this study, 367 male [n = 199] and female [n = 168] school children aged 8.21 ± 0.826 years from 18 schools throughout Selangor state. An independent samples t test was run to determine whether there were differences between digit ratio and body composition. Pearson’s correlation test indicates there were small negative correlations between 2D:4D and body mass index [r = −0.228, p < 0.05] and also skinfold percentile [r = −0.142, p < 0.05]. A very small negative association between 2D:4D and the body composition among school children were scarce to show further evidence of the possible connection between high testosterone levels with body composition thus resulting in inadequate link between prenatal testosterone which was indicated through high 2D:4D with body mass index and skinfold percentile.