'Manly' men are MORE likely to get flu because they've got weaker immune systems than women

  • Men's immune systems are not as effective at fighting off a virus
  • And 'manly' men with more testosterone are the most susceptible to flu
  • The hormone has a 'damping effect' on the way their body fights the virus

By Ben Spencer

PUBLISHED: 15:03 EST, 23 December 2013 | UPDATED: 15:03 EST, 23 December 2013

Chaps complaining of the sniffles are often mocked for coming down too easily with 'man flu'.

But new scientific research suggests men may have been unfairly treated, because their immune systems are not as effective at fighting off a virus.

And those 'manly' men with more testosterone are the most susceptible to flu, scientists found.

'Manly' men such as Superman's Henry Cavill are more likely to get colds and flu as their immune systems aren't as effective at fighting viruses, scientists claim

'Manly' men such as Superman's Henry Cavill are more likely to get colds and flu as their immune systems aren't as effective at fighting viruses, scientists claim

The research has established that men have a weaker immune response to influenza than women, because testosterone has a 'damping effect' on the way their body fights the virus.

Professor Mark Davis, who led the study at Stanford University in California, said the reasons for the difference may lie in the evolutionary role of the male as hunter-gatherer.

Because men were historically more likely to suffer injuries and catch diseases from fighting and hunting, the male immune system was called into action more often.

 

More...

That may have led to problems with the immune system overreacting, causing autoimmune disorders in which the body attacks itself.

Over time the male immune system has evolved to become less active, Dr Davis thinks, resulting in a 'weakened, but not too weak, immune system'.

The new research suggests the much-maligned man flu may exist after all

The new research suggests the much-maligned man flu may exist after all

Previous studies have found that women are more at risk of developing autoimmune diseases and other problems in which the body's defences overreact.

Professor Davis said: 'Ask yourself which sex is more likely to clash violently with, and do grievous bodily harm to, others of their own sex.' He said men were prone to suffer wounds from 'competitive encounters' with other men, as well as from hunting, defending family members and hauling objects around.

The researchers, who published their work in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, injected 53 women and 34 men with an influenza vaccine, a mild version of the flu virus itself.

They found that women had significantly stronger antibody responses, meaning they were better at warding off the virus.

Of the men, those with higher levels of testosterone had a lower antibody response, suggesting that the testosterone played a role in 'damping' the immune system.

The researchers found that the men with more testosterone displayed lower levels of activity in a set of genes key to the way the immune system works.

They think that testosterone may prevent those genes from 'switching on' - something that will need further research.

Professor Davis said the study is a warning to men who take testosterone supplements, often for body building or in the hope that it will improve their performance in bed.

He said: 'This is the first study to show an explicit correlation between testosterone levels, gene expression and immune responsiveness in humans.

'It could be food for thought to all the testosterone-supplement takers out there.'

Comments (110)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

What rubbish...

4
7
 Click to rate

The irony

2
3
 Click to rate

But, we already knew this. Naturally high testosterone men get 2-3 bad flus per year, but they rebound very quickly. Also we know that most naturally high testosterone men had severe scarring acne when young. Notice that almost no teenaged boy has that type of acne anymore? Reason: men's testosterone levels have fallen by half in last 20 years.

0
8
 Click to rate

So, being a complete wimp has saved me from all sorts of trouble..... I haven't had flu for years, and the two colds a year I get haven't stopped me from working. The Superman costume wouldn't fit me anyway- it has bulges where I don't have bulges...(nudge nudge)

2
17
 Click to rate

Are you serious? Really? This is news? Wonder how much the of the tax payers money went to Stanford Univ. Wonder how much of the tax payers money was paid to the researchers to come to this ridiculous conclusion. Most of all I wonder why anyone would believe this tripe.

2
3
 Click to rate

When I was a youngster, I played in every manner of muck and dirt imaginable; picked up more bumps and scrapes than a platoon and generally couldn't wait to get out the door and spend every waking minute exploring, climbing and generally enjoying a boy's childhood. As a result, I have always had a robust immune system and very rarely fall prey to the 'bug that's going 'round' at any given moment. Perhaps if the last few generations hadn't been wrapped up in cotton wool and denied the same adventures I enjoyed (for fear the poor little dears might graze their knees), then their immune systems might have shown to be a little more resilient. Incidentally .... There's no such thing as a 'manly' man....... You're either a man or you're a wimp. Get a grip!

0
9
 Click to rate

The Telegraph ran this story yesterday.

0
3
 Click to rate

Makes a pleasant change from blagging stories out of the Sun....bet somebody had to explain some of the longer words, though....

0
11
 Click to rate

If you asked me I think it because 'manly' men believe they can down 20 pints and smoke a pack of cigs a night, have a few fights, eat junk food such as kebabs or pizza before pulling a woman to mate with for the night, all this contributes to weaker immune system.

5
10
 Click to rate

men and women a virtualy built the same so that is just a load of bull----

9
7
 Click to rate

Explains why I've never had a sick day off work. - Richard, Bristol, United Kingdom, 24/12/2013 14:50 Because no one loves you at home and you have nobody to miss you. Without 'work' your life means nothing. When your at home you get miss call from your boss and that's the only miss call you ever get.

14
5
 Click to rate

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now