Sex Hormone Levels and Body Hair Growth in !Kung San and Kavango Men from Namibia

October 1993 in “ American Journal of Physical Anthropology ”

Eike‐Meinrad Winkler, Kerrin Christiansen

sex hormone levels body hair growth androgen estrogen DHT DHT/Tser ratio bioavailable testosterone saliva testosterone Tsal estradiol E2 Tser/E2 ratio DHT/E2 ratio testosterone

TLDR Lower DHT levels lead to more body hair growth.

The study investigated the relationship between sex hormone levels and body hair growth in 256 !Kung San and Kavango men from Namibia, aged 18 to 39. It found significant differences in body hair distribution between the two groups, influenced by androgen and estrogen levels. DHT and the DHT/Tser ratio were positively related to midphalangeal hair growth but negatively to pubic hair development. Bioavailable testosterone in saliva (Tsal) had a weak positive effect on arm and leg hair growth, while estradiol (E2) had the most significant positive impact on abdominal, arm, and leg hair growth. The Tser/E2 ratio was negatively correlated with arm and leg hair development, and the DHT/E2 ratio was negatively correlated with abdominal, pubic, arm, and leg hair growth. Lower DHT concentrations were associated with stronger hair development.

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