( TIME.com ) -- Talk about a longevity strategy no man wants to pursue . A recent study published in the journal Current Biology finds that Korean eunuchs â€ ” castrated men â€ ” lived 14 to 19 years longer than other men , suggesting that male sex hormones play a role in life span . In the study , the researchers used a genealogy record called the Yang-Se-Gye-Bo that tracked eunuchs who worked in the Korean imperial court during the Chosun Dynasty , which ruled from the 14th to early 20th centuries . Researchers were able to identify 81 eunuchs , who were castrated as boys , and determined that they lived to an average age of 70 , significantly longer than other men of similar social status . Even kings did n't typically make it to age 50 . Three of the 81 eunuchs lived to 100 , a centenarian rate that 's far higher than would be expected in modern society . The current incidence of centenarians is 1 per 3,500 people in Japan , and 1 per 4,400 people in the United States , for instance ; thus , the incidence of centenarians among Korean eunuchs was at least 130 times higher than that of present-day developed countries , according to the paper . TIME.com : Want to live longer ? Do n't try caloric restriction . `` Our study supports the idea that male sex hormones decrease the lifespan of men , '' the authors write . Based on earlier research , the authors argue that one explanation for this could be that male sex hormones may negatively influence the immune system and `` predispose men to adverse cardiovascular attacks . '' They note further that the theory helps explain why females -- in many species -- live longer than males . But while animal studies have suggested that castration ( which removes the testes , the source of male hormones ) results in longer lives , studies in humans have been spotty . In one study of castrati singers , there was no difference in lifespan between them and non-castrated singers ; in another study of institutionalized , mentally ill men , however , those who were castrated lived some 14 years longer than those who were n't . And there are other reasons that women may outlive men , including for example the presence of estrogen , which may help enhance longevity . Also , as ABC News reports : . `` Females may have an advantage in longevity because they have a back-up X chromosome , ( Dr. L. Stephen Coles , a co-founder of the Los Angeles Gerontology Research Group , ) said . A woman 's body is a mixture of cells , half containing an active X chromosome from her mother and the other half from her father , he said . If there is a defect on one X chromosome , half of her cells will be unaffected . '' TIME.com : Health checkup : How to live 100 years . Further , the longevity of the Korean eunuchs could be attributable to lifestyle factors the study did n't track , like diet , exercise and stress . The authors think the men 's long lives ca n't be chalked up solely to a privileged lifestyle , however . `` Except for a few eunuchs , most lived outside the palace and spent time inside the palace only when they were on duty , '' study author Kyung-Jin Min of Inha University told Reuters . Meanwhile , they still tended to outlive other royalty who spent their whole lives inside the palace . Obviously , the study authors do n't advocate becoming a eunuch . There are more sensible and reliable ways to up your chances of a long , healthy life : do n't smoke , eat a healthy diet , get plenty of exercise . `` For better health and longevity , stay away from stresses and learn what you can from women , '' the authors said in a statement . TIME.com : Too good to be true ? Anti-aging proteins not so potent after all . This article was originally published on TIME.com . Do eunuchs really live longer ? & copy 2012 TIME , Inc. TIME is a registered trademark of Time Inc. Used with permission .
A study analyzed the lifespan of Korean eunuchs during the Chosun Dynasty . The eunuchs outlived the other men by 14 to 19 years . The findings suggest male sex hormones play a role in life span .