The Claim

Basal salivary testosterone levels are not meaningfully associated with economic preferences including risk-taking, fairness, and competitiveness in healthy men, as no statistically significant correlations were observed across nine outcome measures in a sample of 1,000 men with 80% power to detect correlations as small as r=0.12.

Source: Investigating the effects of single-dose intranasal testosterone on economic preferences in a large randomized trial of men

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
90score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Correlation
1 study reviewed
In plain English

In healthy men, the natural level of testosterone in saliva shows no measurable relationship with how people make decisions about risk, fairness, or competition.

See the scientific wording

Basal salivary testosterone levels are not meaningfully associated with economic preferences such as risk-taking, fairness, or competitiveness in healthy men, as no statistically significant correlations were found across nine outcome measures in a sample of 1,000 men despite 80% power to detect correlations as small as r=0.12.

Why this might work

Testosterone levels in the blood do not activate or suppress brain regions that control decisions about risk, fairness, or competition, so these choices happen independently of how much testosterone is present.

Verified mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Investigating the effects of single-dose intranasal testosterone on economic preferences in a large randomized trial of men

    This study checked if men’s natural testosterone levels predict how they make money-related choices like taking risks or sharing fairly, and found no link — even with a very large group of men. So, testosterone levels don’t seem to tell us how someone will behave in these situations.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.