title: Body height affects the strength of immune response in young men, but not young women.
abstract: Body height and other body attributes of humans may be associated with a diverse range of social outcomes such as attractiveness to potential mates. Despite evidence that each parameter plays a role in mate choice, we have little understanding of the relative role of each, and relationships between indices of physical appearance and general health. In this study we tested relationships between immune function and body height of young men and women. In men, we report a non-linear relationship between antibody response to a hepatitis-B vaccine and body height, with a positive relationship up to a height of 185 cm, but an inverse relationship in taller men. We did not find any significant relationship between body height and immune function in women. Our results demonstrate the potential of vaccination research to reveal costly traits that govern evolution of mate choice in humans and the importance of trade-offs among these traits.
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute of Systematic Biology, University of Daugavpils, Daugavpils LV-5401, Latvia [2] Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu 51014, Estonia.
authors.forename: Indrikis A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Krams
authors.affiliation: Institute of Systematic Biology, University of Daugavpils, Daugavpils LV-5401, Latvia.
authors.forename: Ilona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Skrinda
authors.affiliation: Institute of Systematic Biology, University of Daugavpils, Daugavpils LV-5401, Latvia.
authors.forename: Sanita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kecko
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, UK.
authors.forename: Fhionna R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Institute of Systematic Biology, University of Daugavpils, Daugavpils LV-5401, Latvia.
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krama
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu 51014, Estonia.
authors.forename: Ants
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaasik
authors.affiliation: 1] Rīga Stradiņš University, Rīga LV-1007, Latvia [2] Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital, Rīga LV-1002, Latvia.
authors.forename: Laila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meija
authors.affiliation: 1] Rīga Stradiņš University, Rīga LV-1007, Latvia [2] Rīga Eastern Clinical University Hospital, Rīga LV-1010, Latvia.
authors.forename: Vilnis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lietuvietis
authors.affiliation: Turku Brain and Mind Center &Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku 20014, Finland.
authors.forename: Markus J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rantala
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001827:Body Height; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007110:Immunity, Active; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014611:Vaccination; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines