A role for 5alpha-reductase activity in the development of male homosexuality?

Abstract

Higher body hair with lower mesmorphism ratings were observed in Caucasian homosexual men compared with the general male population, reflecting elevated 5alpha-reductase (5αR) activity, and higher dihydrotestosterone-to- testosterone (DHT-to-T) ratio, in sharp contrast to 46,XY 5αR 2 deficiency subjects, who are often born with ambiguous, or female genitalia, but tend to grow up to be muscular, heterosexual men with very little body hair, or beard. One study also showed them scoring around dull normal IQs. A greater prevalence of liberal body hair growth in men with higher IQs and/or educational levels was also observed in several samples. The exceptions to this statistical trend are too unsettling, however. Nevertheless, the results of a number of published studies, including one showing higher DHT-to-T ratio in homosexual men, done with different objectives over a span of 80 years, together strongly support these findings. Furthermore, in an animal model, "cognitive-enhancing effects" of "5α-reduced androgen [metabolites]" were recently demonstrated. © 2004 New York Academy of Sciences.