A head start for life history development? Family income mediates associations between height and immune response in men

Krams, I., Luoto, S., Rubika, A., Krama, T., Elferts, D., Krams, R., Kecko, S., Skrinda, I., Moore, F. R. and Rantala, M. J. (2019) A head start for life history development? Family income mediates associations between height and immune response in men. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 168(3), pp. 421-427. (doi: 10.1002/ajpa.23754) (PMID:30578539)

[img]
Preview
Text
189714.pdf - Accepted Version

640kB

Abstract

Objectives: Male height and health affect a diverse range of social and economic outcomes such as competition for resources and mates. Life history theory predicts that limited availability of bioenergetic resources curbs the development of central life history functions such as somatic growth, immunity, and investment in offspring. Although genetic factors are important determinants of height, other factors such as income level may affect the incidence of infections during ontogeny, thus having indirect effects on somatic growth. We tested whether growing up in families with a higher income positively affects height and immune function. Materials and Methods: Seventy‐three young Latvian men from various socioeconomic backgrounds were given a hepatitis B vaccine. Blood samples were subsequently collected to measure the antibodies produced in response to the vaccination. Tweedie compound Poisson generalized linear models were used to examine relationships between height, family income, and antibody titers. Results: Both height and family income positively correlated with the strength of men's immune response. However, when testing for the simultaneous effects of height and income on antibody titers, the statistical models showed that height affected antibody levels indirectly because income level mediated variance in height. Discussion: The results of this study show that the relationships between height and immune function in young men are more complex than previously thought. Associations between taller stature of men and the robustness of their immune response are indirect because resource availability affects both somatic growth and the development of the immune system.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Moore, Fhionna
Authors: Krams, I., Luoto, S., Rubika, A., Krama, T., Elferts, D., Krams, R., Kecko, S., Skrinda, I., Moore, F. R., and Rantala, M. J.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
Journal Name:American Journal of Physical Anthropology
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:0002-9483
ISSN (Online):1096-8644
Published Online:21 December 2018
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
First Published:First published in American Journal of Physical Anthropology 168(3):421-427
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record