"If a mitochondrial mutation occurs that harms fathers, but has no effect on mothers, this mutation will slip through the gaze of natural selection, unnoticed.
"Over thousands of generations, many such mutations have accumulated that harm only males, while leaving females unscathed."
The evidence emerged from studies of male and female fruit flies.
The study appears in the latest issue of the journal Current Biology.
It found that genetic variation across mitochondria was a reliable predictor of life expectancy in male, but not female, flies.
Most inherited DNA, comprising the majority of genes, is wrapped up in the nucleus at a cell's heart.
The mitochondria have their own separate DNA, which is also passed down to offspring – but only by mothers.
In earlier research, Dr Dowling's team linked the maternal inheritance of mitochondria to male infertility.
"Together, our research shows that the mitochondria are hot spots for mutations affecting male health," said the doctor.
"What we seek to do now is investigate the genetic mechanisms that males might arm themselves with to nullify the effects of these harmful mutations and remain healthy."
The average life expectancy for women in the UK is 82.1 compared with 78.1 in men.
Around the world there are nine times as many women over the age of 100 than there are men.
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