Sex differences in the consequences of early‐life exposure to epidemiological stress—A life‐history approach

Objectives: Exposure to infectious disease in early life has been suggested to have a negative effect on later‐life survival, possibly through the induction of inflammatory responses. Although a life‐course perspective emphasizes the importance of both survival and reproduction for individual fitness, to date, no studies have investigated whether early‐life exposure to infectious disease has an impact on reproduction as it has been suggested for later survival. Methods: To address this question, I have used family reconstitution data from a historical (18th and 19th century) human population in the Krummhörn (Germany) comparing survival and reproduction between an exposed and a nonexposed group. The exposed group comprised those exposed to a high‐infectious disease load during prenatal and early postnatal development. Results: The results show a marked sex difference in the impact of early‐life exposure to infectious disease. Exposed females show no effect on their life expectancy but significantly reduced fertility (number of children). For exposed males, however, the effect on survival is opponent over time: mortality is increased during childhood but decreased in late adulthood. Above that, exposed males reproduce earlier and have a smaller proportion of surviving children. Conclusions: This study does not support former studies indicating a negative association between early‐life disease load and later survival. I argue that due to differences in male and female life strategies, males in general are more vulnerable especially early in life. Hence, adverse environmental conditions may have a stronger effect on male survivability and reproductive performance. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.