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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Energetic costs of testosterone in two subsistence populations
American Journal of Human Biology, Volume 35, No. 11, Article e23949, Year 2023
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Description
Objective: Testosterone plays a role in mediating energetic trade-offs between growth, maintenance, and reproduction. Investments in a high testosterone phenotype trade-off against other functions, particularly survival-enhancing immune function and cellular repair; thus only individuals in good condition can maintain both a high testosterone phenotype and somatic maintenance. While these effects are observed in experimental manipulations, they are difficult to demonstrate in free-living animals, particularly in humans. We hypothesize that individuals with higher testosterone will have higher energetic expenditures than those with lower testosterone. Methods: Total energetic expenditure (TEE) was quantified using doubly labeled water in n = 40 Tsimane forager-horticulturalists (50% male, 18–87 years) and n = 11 Hadza hunter-gatherers (100% male, 18–65 years), two populations living subsistence lifestyles, high levels of physical activity, and high infectious burden. Urinary testosterone, TEE, body composition, and physical activity were measured to assess potential physical and behavioral costs associated with a high testosterone phenotype. Results: Endogenous male testosterone was significantly associated with energetic expenditure, controlling for fat free mass; a one standard deviation increase in testosterone is associated with the expenditure of an additional 96–240 calories per day. Discussion: These results suggest that a high testosterone phenotype, while beneficial for male reproduction, is also energetically expensive and likely only possible to maintain in healthy males in robust condition. © 2023 The Authors. American Journal of Human Biology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Authors & Co-Authors
Trumble, Benjamin C.
United States, Tempe
Arizona State University
Pontzer, Herman
United States, Durham
Duke University
Stieglitz, Jonathan
France, Toulouse
Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse
Cummings, Daniel K.
United States, Orange
Chapman University
Wood, Brian M.
United States, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
Emery Thompson, Melissa
United States, Albuquerque
The University of new Mexico
Raichlen, David A.
United States, Los Angeles
University of Southern California
Beheim, Bret Alexander
Germany, Leipzig
Max-planck-institut Für Evolutionäre Anthropologie
Yetish, Gandhi M.
United States, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
Kaplan, Hillard S.
United States, Orange
Chapman University
Gurven, Michael D.
United States, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
Statistics
Citations: 1
Authors: 11
Affiliations: 9
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1002/ajhb.23949
ISSN:
10420533
Research Areas
Environmental
Participants Gender
Male