Compensatory Rather Than Complementary: Trait Pathogen Disgust Tracks Immunometabolic Protein–Resource Balance
The behavioral immune system (BIS) and physiological immune system (PIS) both defend against pathogens, but whether they function synergistically (complementary) or through trade-offs (compensatory) remains debated. We tested complementary predictions in 110 chronic cardiovascular disease patients using Bayesian analyses with blood samples. We assessed behavioral immune traits (pathogen disgust, perceived infectability) alongside chronic inflammatory markers (CRP, NLR, PLR, SII) and resource indicators (glucose, lipids, albumin/globulin ratio), controlling for age, sex, and BMI. Contrary to complementary predictions, behavioral immune traits showed null associations with inflammatory markers (all BF₁₀ < 0.6) but pathogen disgust sensitivity positively correlated with albumin/globulin ratio (BF₁₀ = 12.38, ρ = 0.26). Pure metabolic indicators showed null associations. This pattern contradicts the complementary activation framework but supports a compensatory resource-management account: individuals higher in pathogen disgust appear to maintain more favorable long-term protein-resource balance, reflected in higher albumin (nutritional reserve) and/or lower globulin (chronic immune load), rather than exhibiting elevated (baseline) inflammatory activation. These findings highlight the value of chronic, integrative biomarkers for understanding mind–body immune coordination. BIS traits may correspond to preserved long-term metabolic reserves, consistent with compensatory immunometabolic trade-offs.