Unusual but true: length of your fingers can betray your drinking habits ! This is what a recent study reveals, carried out by researchers from Swansea University (United Kingdom) and the Medical University of Lodz (Poland). Even more surprising: those responsible for this phenomenon are prenatal sex hormones, namely testosterone and estrogen.
The ring finger being longer than the thumb would be a risk factor
Indeed, the authors of the study deduced that the ratio between the length of index and ring fingerscalled the 2D:4D ratio, would be an indicator of theearly exposure to these hormones. To be more precise, the longer your ring finger is in relation to your index finger, the higher your exposure to testosterone might have been from birth, and therefore the more you will have tendency to consume alcohol.
The study was published in theAmerican Journal of Human Biology. She analyzed a sample of 258 students, including 169 women. The results show that on average, men consume more alcohol than women, which researchers linked to their higher testosterone levels. At the same time, the 2D:4D ratio of women could also be a sign of different trends in consumption, although the effects are less pronounced.
Still excessive consumption
This work could help to better understand the causes of differences in alcohol consumptionand in particular addictive behaviors associated, to possibly prevent it. “Alcohol consumption is a major issue, both on the social and economic plan“, explains Professor John Manning, director of the study, in the journal Medical Xpress.
In France, the alcohol consumption is decreasingbut increases in women over 35 years old. This substance remains responsible for 49,000 deaths per year. According to the latest government data, above 13 grams of pure alcohol per dayconsumption is considered excessive and can promote the appearance of several pathologies. Among them, we find several types of cancer s, but also chronic diseases like cirrhosis, cardiovascular disordershypertension but also t mental health rubles.
