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Recent research conducted by Swansea University sheds light on the intriguing correlation between finger length and oxygen metabolism in professional athletes. Led by digit ratio expert Professor John Manning, the study, published in the American Journal of Human Biology, delves into how the length of certain fingers can impact oxygen supply to tissues, crucial for understanding the severity of diseases like Covid-19 and heart conditions.
The study analyzed 133 professional football players, examining their digit lengths through hand scans and conducting incremental cardiopulmonary tests to exhaustion on a treadmill. Professor Manning, part of the Applied Sports, Technology, Exercise, and Medicine (A-STEM) research team, collaborated with partners from the University of Central Lancashire’s Cyprus campus to unravel the relationship between the 2D:4D ratio and oxygen metabolism.
“We have clarified the relationship between 2D:4D and oxygen metabolism in a sample of well-trained athletes,” stated Professor Manning. “The players with long ring digits (4D) relative to their index digits (2D) have efficient oxygen metabolism, reaching very high maximal oxygen consumption during the treadmill test.”
The length of the ring finger relative to the index finger is believed to indicate high testosterone levels during fetal development, influencing oxygen metabolism through its impact on cellular energy production. This discovery aligns with previous findings linking longer ring fingers to high athletic performance, as well as lower severity of heart disease and Covid-19.
“Our study illustrates the value of using healthy, well-trained athletes to clarify metabolic processes important in disease outcomes,” Professor Manning emphasized. The research underscores the potential of digit ratio analysis in predicting disease severity and outcomes, offering valuable insights into oxygen metabolism variations.
Moving forward, the team aims to extend their investigations to quantify these associations in women, broadening the scope of their research. Professor Manning’s previous studies have already demonstrated the potential of finger length differences in predicting Covid-19 outcomes, highlighting the multifaceted applications of this intriguing area of research.
