A new study has validated an old scientific hypothesis that states, "Good looks are indicators of good health." Researchers from Texas Christian University discovered that the balance of facial features, which is a factor of attractiveness, is associated with the strength of the body’s immune functions. The results showed that individuals deemed more attractive were less likely to suffer from microbial infections.
According to Biological Science, which published the study's results yesterday, the research team selected 159 participants of different ethnic backgrounds, aged between 17 and 30, with a body mass index under 30 to ensure there was no increase in inflammation in the body. Female participants were required to be in the pre-ovulatory phase to avoid any rise in their steroid sexual hormone levels.
Participants were asked to refrain from exercising, consuming stimulants, and taking anti-inflammatory medications during the two weeks of the study. They had their photos taken to measure facial and bodily symmetry, without any cosmetic enhancements.
The photos were evaluated by 492 individuals from various ethnicities, aged between 18 and 29, comprising 259 women and 233 men. According to Samer Mingelkotch, the doctoral student overseeing the study: "Female participants found images of men with high-performing NK cells to be more attractive than those with low-performing NK cells. This indicates that women may prefer men who are well-suited to combat viral threats and tumor growth."
On the other hand, male participants rated images of women with low-performing NK cells as more attractive. This aligns with the results of a previous study conducted in 2005, which found that the function of killer immune cells decreases with elevated estrogen levels, and that with increased hormone levels, without makeup, their faces were considered more attractive and feminine.
Mingelkotch noted: "I believe what is happening in this case is a sort of confounding effect where estrogen is beneficial for female attractiveness, but it is not favorable for this specific measure of immune function."
Additionally, the study found that women with slower growth rates of S. aureus bacteria in their plasma were perceived as more attractive than those with faster growth rates, with no similar effect observed in men. The study focused on examining innate immune cells, rather than immunity acquired from vaccinations.
