Prenatal oestrogen-testosterone balance as a risk factor of migraine in adults
Abstract Background Migraine is a common neurological disease with extremely debilitating, but fully reversible symptoms. Women suffer from migraine more often than men. It was assumed that fluctuation of oestrogen level during menstrual cycle is one of many factors responsible for more frequent mig...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-10-01
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| Series: | The Journal of Headache and Pain |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-021-01326-3 |
| _version_ | 1818730559274221568 |
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| author | Magdalena Kobus Aneta Sitek Bogusław Antoszewski Jacek Rożniecki Jacek Pełka Elżbieta Żądzińska |
| author_facet | Magdalena Kobus Aneta Sitek Bogusław Antoszewski Jacek Rożniecki Jacek Pełka Elżbieta Żądzińska |
| author_sort | Magdalena Kobus |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Migraine is a common neurological disease with extremely debilitating, but fully reversible symptoms. Women suffer from migraine more often than men. It was assumed that fluctuation of oestrogen level during menstrual cycle is one of many factors responsible for more frequent migraine attacks. The second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is considered as an indicator of prenatal sex steroids. Balance of prenatal androgens (testosterone) and oestrogen has been studied in numerous diseases that are affected by hormones. However, the relationship between migraine and the sex steroids balance in prenatal development is still unexplained. The aim of this paper is to provide an evidence of relationship between prenatal oestrogen and testosterone exposure following 2D:4D digit ratio, and migraine prevalence in adults. Methods We examined a group of 151 adults (33 males, 118 females) with migraine and a control group of 111 adults (45 males, 66 females). 2D:4D digit ratio of both hands was measured using sliding Vernier calliper. Results Significant differences were found in the right hand. Female migraineurs had lower value of 2D:4D ratio than the control group and the right 2D:4D was lower than left 2D:4D (Δ2D:4D), suggesting prenatal testosterone dominance. The opposite relationship was observed in males. Male migraineurs had higher value of 2D:4D ratio and Δ2D:4D was greater than the control group, suggesting prenatal oestrogen dominance. Conclusions Our results suggest that depending on sex, different proportion of prenatal sex steroids might be a risk factor of migraine in adults. Women with migraine were presumably exposed in prenatal life to higher testosterone levels relative to oestrogen, while men with migraine were probably exposed in prenatal life to higher levels of oestrogen relative to testosterone. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T23:03:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8390a626b53141c18cea760b46839d8c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1129-2369 1129-2377 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T23:03:42Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Journal of Headache and Pain |
| spelling | doaj.art-8390a626b53141c18cea760b46839d8c2022-12-21T21:29:20ZengBMCThe Journal of Headache and Pain1129-23691129-23772021-10-012211810.1186/s10194-021-01326-3Prenatal oestrogen-testosterone balance as a risk factor of migraine in adultsMagdalena Kobus0Aneta Sitek1Bogusław Antoszewski2Jacek Rożniecki3Jacek Pełka4Elżbieta Żądzińska5Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of LodzDepartment of Anthropology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of LodzDepartment of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Institute of Surgery, Medical University of LodzDepartment of Neurology, Stroke and Neurorehabilitation, Medical University of LodzDepartment of Neurology, Norbert Barlicki Memory University Teaching HospitalDepartment of Anthropology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of LodzAbstract Background Migraine is a common neurological disease with extremely debilitating, but fully reversible symptoms. Women suffer from migraine more often than men. It was assumed that fluctuation of oestrogen level during menstrual cycle is one of many factors responsible for more frequent migraine attacks. The second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is considered as an indicator of prenatal sex steroids. Balance of prenatal androgens (testosterone) and oestrogen has been studied in numerous diseases that are affected by hormones. However, the relationship between migraine and the sex steroids balance in prenatal development is still unexplained. The aim of this paper is to provide an evidence of relationship between prenatal oestrogen and testosterone exposure following 2D:4D digit ratio, and migraine prevalence in adults. Methods We examined a group of 151 adults (33 males, 118 females) with migraine and a control group of 111 adults (45 males, 66 females). 2D:4D digit ratio of both hands was measured using sliding Vernier calliper. Results Significant differences were found in the right hand. Female migraineurs had lower value of 2D:4D ratio than the control group and the right 2D:4D was lower than left 2D:4D (Δ2D:4D), suggesting prenatal testosterone dominance. The opposite relationship was observed in males. Male migraineurs had higher value of 2D:4D ratio and Δ2D:4D was greater than the control group, suggesting prenatal oestrogen dominance. Conclusions Our results suggest that depending on sex, different proportion of prenatal sex steroids might be a risk factor of migraine in adults. Women with migraine were presumably exposed in prenatal life to higher testosterone levels relative to oestrogen, while men with migraine were probably exposed in prenatal life to higher levels of oestrogen relative to testosterone.https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-021-01326-3MigraineSex hormonesSex steroidsDigit ratio2D:4DPrenatal |
| spellingShingle | Magdalena Kobus Aneta Sitek Bogusław Antoszewski Jacek Rożniecki Jacek Pełka Elżbieta Żądzińska Prenatal oestrogen-testosterone balance as a risk factor of migraine in adults The Journal of Headache and Pain Migraine Sex hormones Sex steroids Digit ratio 2D:4D Prenatal |
| title | Prenatal oestrogen-testosterone balance as a risk factor of migraine in adults |
| title_full | Prenatal oestrogen-testosterone balance as a risk factor of migraine in adults |
| title_fullStr | Prenatal oestrogen-testosterone balance as a risk factor of migraine in adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prenatal oestrogen-testosterone balance as a risk factor of migraine in adults |
| title_short | Prenatal oestrogen-testosterone balance as a risk factor of migraine in adults |
| title_sort | prenatal oestrogen testosterone balance as a risk factor of migraine in adults |
| topic | Migraine Sex hormones Sex steroids Digit ratio 2D:4D Prenatal |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-021-01326-3 |
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