Serial analysis of stable nitrogen and carbon isotopes in hair: monitoring starvation and recovery phases of patients suffering from anorexia nervosa

Life histories in Fiji as reconstructed from first millennium CE Sigatoka Sand Dune burials using isotopes

This paper aims to re-examine the dietary practices of individuals buried at Sigatoka Sand Dunes site (Fiji) in Burial Ground 1 excavated by Simon Best in 1987 and 1988 using two approaches and a reassessment of their archaeological, bioarchaeological and chronological frame. First, stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis was applied to document dietary changes between childhood and adulthood using an intra-individual approach on paired bone-tooth. Second, the potential adaptation of the individuals to their environment was evaluated through regional and temporal comparisons using inter-individual bone analysis. Ten AMS radiocarbon dates were measured directly on human bone collagen samples, placing the series in a range of approximately 600 years covering the middle of the first millennium CE (1,888 to 1,272 cal BP). δ13C and δ15N ratios were measured on bone and tooth collagen samples from 38 adult individuals. The results show that δ15N values from tooth are higher than those s from bone while bone and tooth δ13C values are similar, except for females. Fifteen individuals were included in an intra-individual analysis based on paired bone and tooth samples, which revealed six dietary patterns distinguished by a differential dietary intake of marine resources and resources at different trophic levels. These highlight sex-specific differences not related to mortuary practices but to daily life activities, supporting the hypothesis of a sexual division of labour. Compared to other Southwest Pacific series, Sigatoka diets show a specific trend towards marine food consumption that supports the hypothesis of a relative food self-sufficiency requiring no interactions with other groups.

Changes in urinary stable nitrogen isotope ratios during controlled short-term energy deficit: a proof-of-principle analysis

PURPOSE

Stable isotope ratios of nitrogen (δ15N) have previously been shown to increase in human hair during periods of catabolism. The goal of this study was to assess changes in δ15N in urinary urea (δ15Nurea) and Δ15N during a short-term controlled energy deficit.

METHODS

We analyzed samples from 6 recreationally active men (25 ± 1 years, BMI: 23.5 ± 0.6 kg/m2) who participated in a repeated measures cross-over study involving 4 days of energy deficit (ED, ~ 15 kcal/kg FFM) without and with exercise (ED-EX, ED + EX) and control conditions in energy balance (CON-EX, CON + EX). δ15Nurea was analyzed from urine samples, and Δ15N was calculated as δ15Nurea-δ15Ndiet, with δ15Ndiet obtained from diet prescriptions.

RESULTS

δ15Nurea was significantly elevated in ED-EX (4.4 ± 0.2‰) when compared to CON-EX (3.7 ± 0.1‰; p = 0.026) and CON + EX (3.34 ± 0.13‰, p = 0.001). As a consequence, Δ15N was positive in ED-EX (0.2 ± 0.2‰) and remained negative in ED + EX (- 0.6 ± 0.5‰), CON-EX (- 1.0 ± 0.2) and CON + EX (- 1.1 ± 0.2). Differences in Δ15N were significant between ED-EX and CON-EX (p = 0.005) and ED-EX and CON + EX (p = 0.006).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that δ15Nurea and subsequently Δ15N are responsive to a short-term energy deficit, likely due to increased amino acid oxidation to meet energy demands and preferable elimination of 14N.

Discerning animal-sourced food in diet using isotope analysis of human scalp hair and fingernails

PURPOSE

Diet-related diseases are advancing as the leading cause of death globally. As self-reporting of diet by patients can be associated with errors, stable isotopes of human tissues can be used to diagnose diseases, understand physiology, and detect change in diet. This study investigates the effect of type and amount of food on the nitrogen and carbon concentration (Nconc and Cconc) and isotopic composition (δ15N and δ13C) in human scalp hair and fingernails.

METHODS

A total of 100 residents participated in the study whereas only 74 individuals provided complete diet history. Sixty-six food items majorly available to them were also collected. The Nconc, Cconc, δ15N and δ13C values of human hair, nails and food items were determined.

RESULTS

The Nconc, Cconc, δ15N and δ13C values between plant-sourced and animal-sourced food items, as well as human hair and nail tissue were significantly different (p < 0.05). The δ15N value of human tissues was distinct between lacto-vegetarians and omnivores by 0.9‰. The δ15N and δ13C values of human tissues increased by 0.4-0.5‰ with every 5% increase in the consumption of animal protein.

CONCLUSIONS

The study helps to demarcate lacto-vegetarians from omnivores, and estimate the percentage of animal protein in diet based on the dual isotope values of human tissues. It also acts as a reference to determine isotopic composition of hair tissue provided the isotope value of nail tissue is known and vice versa.

Stable isotope analyses of carbon and nitrogen in hair keratin of suspected man-eating wolves from 1880s

The so-called man-eating wolves of Turku, a pack of three wolves, reportedly killed 22 children in South-Western Finland in 1880-1881. Enormous efforts were carried out to eradicate them. In January 1882 the last remaining wolf was killed. Since then, there has been considerable debate regarding the validity and extent of the man-eating behaviour. This study aims to clarify whether man-eating behaviour can be observed from the remains of these wolves. One of the wolves was mounted in 1882 and is on display at St. Olaf's school in Turku, enabling us to collect hair keratin samples. Additionally, hair keratin was collected from two other suspected man-eaters. We analysed carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope values to study the wolf's diet during the last months of its life. Samples from seven temporally concurrent wolves were used to construct reference values. Our analyses indicated that δ15N values of suspected man-eaters were relatively low compared to the reference sample. We could not detect clear trends in isotope ratios associated with potential man-eating behavior. We believe that this lack of distinctive patterns can be explained by the relatively minor role that man-eating played in their overall diet.

Forensic application of isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) for human identification

Application of isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) to skeletal remains has become an important tool to investigate human behavior and history. Isotopic variations in collagen, enamel, and keratin reflect variations in an individual's diet and drinking water. Since food and water sources typically are geographically linked, isotope testing can assist in forensic identification by classifying remains to a likely geographic or population origin. If remains are commingled, differences in diet or geographic origin also can support their separation. The usefulness of IRMS in forensic science is dependent on the underlying quality and surety of the isotope test results; in other words, we need to understand their reliability in interpretations. To take ownership of isotopic data quality, we recommend asking a series of questions:Here, we use data collected during the buildout and accreditation of an isotope testing program at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) to answer the above questions for the forensic application of IRMS for human identification. While our primary focus is on the preparation and analysis of bone collagen, the questions above should be considered whenever isotope testing is used in forensic casework. Whether the populations of interest are drugs or humans, olives or explosives, users need to evaluate their isotopic data and interpretations to ensure they are scientifically sound and legally defensible.

Sr-Pb isotope differences in pre- and post-burial human bone, teeth, and hair keratin: implications for isotope forensics

The isotopic signatures of human tissues can provide valuable information on geographic origin for medicolegal investigations involving unidentified persons. It is important to understand the impact of diagenetic processes on isotopic signatures, as alterations could result in incorrect estimation of geographic origin. This study examines alterations in isotope signatures of different tissues of five human body donors studied throughout decomposition at the Forensic Anthropology Research Facility (FARF), San Marcos, TX. Two body donors were buried, two were placed in open pits, and one was first allowed to naturally mummify and then buried. Remains were recovered after a period of 7-34 months. The preplacement and post-recovery Sr-Pb isotope data of scalp hair, bone (iliac and tibia), and tooth enamel and dentine were compared. The hair samples record significant shifts in Sr-Pb isotope compositions, with hair keratin Pb isotope composition shifting towards the Pb signature of local soil samples. Hair keratin Sr isotope compositions were altered by the burial environment and possibly also by the lab sample cleaning method. The spongy iliac bone samples show inconsistencies in the recoverability of the preplacement Sr-Pb isotope signatures. The post-placement signatures of the buried donors show slight elevation over preplacement signatures. The post-placement signatures of donors placed in open pits are significantly elevated. The tibia and dental samples record the most consistent isotopic data with the least alteration. These more densely mineralised elements show good recoverability of the preplacement isotope signatures in burials and open pits and are thus deemed better targets for forensic investigative purposes.

Stable Isotope Provenance of Unidentified Deceased Migrants-A Pilot Study

In the global migration crisis, one of the challenges in the effort to identify deceased migrants is establishing their region of origin, which facilitates the search for ante mortem data to be compared with the post mortem information. This pilot study explores the potential of using stable isotope analysis to distinguish between individuals coming from West Africa and the Horn of Africa. Six individuals (four of known origin and two of unknown origin) were sampled. δ13CVPDB(keratin), δ15NVPDB(keratin) and δ18OVSMOW(keratin) of hair were analysed using Elemental Analyzers coupled with Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS). δ18OVSMOW(carbonate) and δ13CVPDB(carbonate) of bone were analysed using GasBench II with IRMS, while 87Sr/86Sr composition was determined in bone and dental enamel using laser ablation multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The stable isotope compositions of the individual from the Horn of Africa differed from the other individuals. The differences found between 87Sr/86Sr of enamel and bone and between δ18O and δ13C in bone and hair reflect changes in sources of food and water in accordance with regionally typical migration journeys. The analysis of multiple stable isotopes delivered promising results, allowing us to narrow down the region of origin of deceased migrants and corroborate the information about the migration journey.

Oral Cavity Cancer Tissues Differ in Isotopic Composition Depending on Location and Staging

The aim of this paper was to characterise the isotopic composition of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) specimens of different areas of the oral cavity. Secondly, we assessed whether there was a correlation between clinical stages of OSCC and isotopic abundance. The IRMS procedure was performed on 124 samples derived from 31 patients with OSCC of 15 N and 13 C to assess the isotopic composition. From each individual, four samples from the tumour, two from the margins, and two samples of healthy oral mucous membranes were derived. The two samples from the tumour and two samples from the margin were additionally subjected to histopathological assessment. Then, statistical analysis was conducted. Tumour infiltration tissues of the lower lip were characterised by higher mean δ13C values compared to samples derived from cancers of the other oral cavity regions (-23.82 ± 1.21 vs. -22.67 ± 1.35); (p = 0.04). The mean percentage of nitrogen content in tumour tissues was statistically higher in patients with the most advanced cancers (11.89 ± 0.03%) versus the group of patients with II and III stage cancers (11.12 ± 0.02%); (p = 0.04). In patients at stage IV, the mean δ13C value in the cancer samples equalled -22.69 ± 1.42 and was lower than that in patients at less severe clinical stages (p = 0.04). Lower lip cancer tissues differed in the isotopic abundance of carbon in comparison with tissues derived from the group of combined samples from other locations. Values of δ13C observed in specimens derived from lower lip cancers were similar to those observed in healthy oral mucous membranes. Cancer tissues obtained from patients in the last stage of OSCC had a different isotopic composition in comparison with those obtained from earlier stages. To confirm these observations, further research on larger groups of patients is needed.

Is the Intrasexual Competition in Male Red Deer Reflected in the Ratio of Stable Isotopes of Carbon and Nitrogen in Faeces?

Isotopic analysis of carbon and nitrogen in faeces is a reliable methodology for studying ecology in wildlife. Here, we tested this technique to detect variations in carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) in two different intrasexual competition scenarios of male Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) using faeces of individuals collected during hunting actions in South-eastern Spain. The carbon isotopic ratio (δ¹³C) was not found to be significant, likely due to similar diet composition in all individuals. However, the nitrogen isotopic ratio (δ¹⁵N) was found to be lower in populations where sexual competition between males during the rut was higher compared to low-competition populations. Therefore, this study suggests a different use of proteins by an individual male red deer depending on the sexually competitive context in which he lives. Although further research is needed, these results show the potential of isotopic analysis as a tool for studying individual and populational variations in the level of intrasexual competition, with implications in evolutionary ecology and population management.

Tooth enamel nitrogen isotope composition records trophic position: a tool for reconstructing food webs

Nitrogen isotopes are widely used to study the trophic position of animals in modern food webs; however, their application in the fossil record is severely limited by degradation of organic material during fossilization. In this study, we show that the nitrogen isotope composition of organic matter preserved in mammalian tooth enamel (δ¹⁵N_enamel) records diet and trophic position. The δ¹⁵N_enamel of modern African mammals shows a 3.7‰ increase between herbivores and carnivores as expected from trophic enrichment, and there is a strong positive correlation between δ¹⁵N_enamel and δ¹⁵N_{bone-collagen} values from the same individuals. Additionally, δ¹⁵N_enamel values of Late Pleistocene fossil teeth preserve diet and trophic level information, despite complete diagenetic loss of collagen in the same specimens. We demonstrate that δ¹⁵N_enamel represents a powerful geochemical proxy for diet that is applicable to fossils and can help delineate major dietary transitions in ancient vertebrate lineages.

Sequential analysis of δ15 N in guard hair suggests late gestation is the most critical period for muskox calf recruitment

RATIONALE

Analysis of stable isotopes in tissue and excreta may provide information about animal diets and their nutritional state. As body condition may have a major influence on reproduction, linking stable isotope values to animal demographic rates may help unravel the drivers behind animal population dynamics.

METHODS

We performed sequential analysis of δ¹⁵ N values in guard hair from 21 muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) from Zackenberg in high arctic Greenland. We were able to reconstruct the dietary history for the population over a 5-year period with contrasting environmental conditions. We examined the linkage between guard hair δ¹⁵ N values in 12 three-month periods and muskox calf recruitment to detect critical periods for muskox reproduction. Finally, we conducted similar analyses of the correlation between environmental conditions (snow depth and air temperature) and calf recruitment.

RESULTS

δ¹⁵ N values exhibited a clear seasonal pattern with high levels in summer and low levels in winter. However, large inter-annual variation was found in winter values, suggesting varying levels of catabolism depending on snow conditions. In particular δ¹⁵ N values during January-March were linked to muskox recruitment rates, with higher values coinciding with lower calf recruitment. δ¹⁵ N values were a better predictor of muskox recruitment rates than environmental conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

Although environmental conditions may ultimately determine the dietary δ¹⁵ N signal in muskox guard hairs, muskox calf recruitment was more strongly correlated with δ¹⁵ N values than ambient snow and temperature. The period January-March, corresponding to late gestation, appears particularly critical for muskox reproduction.

Delineating origins of cheetah cubs in the illegal wildlife trade: Improvements based on the use of hair δ18O measurements

All African felids are listed as vulnerable or endangered according to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species. Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in particular have declined rapidly as a result of human impacts so that development of effective strategies and tools for conservation of this highly vulnerable species, as well as African felids in general, are essential for their survival in the wild. Here we use the oxygen stable isotopic compositions of cheetah hair to determine origins of cheetah cubs destined for the illegal exotic pet trade by associating individual cubs with predicted δ18O isoscape locations. We found that cheetah cubs most likely originated in East Africa, close to the corridors responsible for this aspect of the illegal wildlife trade to the Middle East. Further refinement of these assignments using a two isotope analysis (δ18O and δ13C values) indicate that these cubs were likely sourced in Southern Ethiopia or possibly as far as Tanzania. We also demonstrate that δ18O values in tissues can provide provenance information in cases where results of δ2H analyses may be obscured by the effects of metabolic routing of nutrients during nursing, starvation, or dehydration. This study demonstrates the utility of stable isotopic tools for conservation and forensic uses for endangered mammalian species.

Tracking the British agricultural revolution through the isotopic analysis of dated parchment

Between the sixteenth and nineteenth century, British agriculture underwent a 'revolutionary' transformation. Yet despite over a century of research and the recognised centrality of agricultural developments to industrialisation and population growth, the character or chronology of any 'revolution' during this period remains contentious. Enquiry has been hampered by the fragmented and locally specific nature of historic accounts and the broad dating of early-modern zooarchaeological assemblages. To address this, we conducted stable isotope analysis on 658 legal documents written on sheepskin parchment; a unique biological resource that records the day, month and year of use (AD 1499 to 1969). We find these provide a high temporal resolution analysis of changing agricultural practices and episodes of disease. Most significantly, they suggest that if an 'Agricultural Revolution' occurred in livestock management, it did so from the mid-nineteenth century, in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars.

Children of the grave: Investigating non-adult feeding practices in medieval and early modern Estonia through stable isotope analysis

Studying infant diet and feeding practices through stable isotope analysis provides direct insight into the life and health of vulnerable population groups in the past. Although the general diet in medieval and early modern Livonia has been reconstructed from written sources, little is known about childhood diet during this tumultuous period of Eastern European history. This study presents a comparative investigation of the staple non-adult diet in urban/rural communities during the 13th-17th centuries AD, with a special focus on feeding practices. We aim to reveal the impact of socio-economic circumstances on early childhood nutrition, which affects the physical development and overall survival of this susceptible population group. Bone collagen samples from 176 individuals between the fetal and the 7-15 age categories from four urban/rural South-Estonian cemeteries were cross-sectionally analyzed via EA-IRMS (Elemental Analysis with Isotope Ratio Mass Spectroscopy) for δ13C and δ15N. Results suggest that South-Estonian children had a staple terrestrial C3 diet integrated with animal proteins. Significant divergences were observed between urban and rural sites and slight variation occurred among rural subgroups, possibly resulting from a wider food choice available in towns, different consumption of C4 foods, and/or secular changes. This study provides the first data regarding infant feeding practices in medieval and early modern Livonia. These practices were similar among the different contexts, indicating comparable cultural traditions in child rearing. Breastfeeding was likely practiced for 1-2 years, with supplementary foods introduced around 1 year of age. The weaning process was probably concluded around the age of 3. The δ13C and δ15N values of older children are comparable to those of the adults from the same sites, indicating their diets became similar after weaning, when they started working and obtained a more mature social status.

Multi-isotope zooarchaeological investigations at Abri du Maras: The paleoecological and paleoenvironmental context of Neanderthal subsistence strategies in the Rhône Valley during MIS 3

The exploitation of mid- and large-sized herbivores (ungulates) was central to hominin subsistence across Late Pleistocene Europe. Reconstructing the paleoecology of prey-taxa is key to better understanding procurement strategies, decisions and behaviors, and the isotope analysis of faunal bones and teeth found at archaeological sites represent a powerful means of accessing information about past faunal behaviors. These isotope zooarchaeological approaches also have a near-unique ability to reveal environmental conditions contemporary to the human activities that produced these remains. Here, we present the results of a multi-isotope, multitissue study of ungulate remains from the Middle Paleolithic site of Abri du Maras, southern France, providing new insights into the living landscapes of the Rhône Valley during MIS 3 (level 4.2 = 55 ± 2 to 42 ± 3 ka; level 4.1 = 46 ± 3 to 40 ± 3 ka). Isotope data (carbon, nitrogen) reveal the dietary niches of different ungulate taxa, including the now-extinct giant deer (Megaloceros). Oxygen isotope data are consistent with a mild seasonal climate during level 4.2, where horse (Equus), bison (Bison), and red deer (Cervus elaphus) were exploited year-round. Strontium and sulfur isotope analyses provide new evidence for behavioral plasticity in Late Pleistocene European reindeer (Rangifer) between level 4.2 and level 4.1, indicating a change from the migratory to the sedentary ecotype. In level 4.1, the strong seasonal nature of reindeer exploitation, combined with their nonmigratory behavior, is consistent with a seasonally restricted use of the site by Neanderthals at that time or the preferential hunting of reindeer when in peak physical condition during the autumn.

Holiday trip to Norway - a stable isotope project on hair strands of individuals of a travel group from Bavaria

Hair strands were taken from individuals of a travel group from Bavaria that stayed on the Lofoten Islands/Norway for 3 weeks. By means of serial stable isotope analyses of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur and hydrogen along the hair strands, food-specific changes during travel could be detected. The higher consumption of marine fish led to significant changes of the stable isotope values of nitrogen, sulphur and hydrogen. The highest differences for the values were found in the most proximal part of hair strands which were taken shortly after the trip. The basic values for the isotope distribution of the elements in the hair also indicate specific diets of some individuals that could be confirmed upon request.

Food for the soul and food for the body. Studying dietary patterns and funerary meals in the Western Roman Empire: An anthropological and archaeozoological approach

Ancient written sources show that Roman funerary rituals were relevant along the entire Roman Republic and Empire, as they ensured the protection of deities and the memory of the deceased. Part of these rituals consisted of funerary offerings and banquets that were held on the day of the burial, in festivities and other stipulated days. The faunal remains recovered inside the graves and around them are evidence of these rituals. Therefore, their study can allow us to know if the funerary meals and rituals developed in the Roman necropolis were special and implied food that differed from everyday dietary habits, according to the importance of these rituals. To test this, we analysed the archaeozoological and anthropological material from the necropolis of Vila de Madrid (Barcelona, Catalonia), which was in use between the first half of the 2^nd century AD and mid 3^rd century AD. The archaeozoological analysis of the faunal remains recovered in the necropolis and inside the graves, as well as carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios results on bone collagen from 50 faunal specimens and 41 humans, suggest that, overall, funerary meals in Vila de Madrid necropolis did not imply different food than that consumed during life. Regarding age, sex, offerings and diet, some differences are observed, suggesting that inequalities present in life could have been also present in the funerary rituals.

A comparison of dietary isotopes in pulp stones and incremental dentine from Early Neolithic individuals of the Whitwell Long Cairn, England

Objectives

This study investigates if palaeodietary information can be obtained from pulp stones through stable isotope analysis, presents a method for their extraction from tooth samples, and assesses their utility as a source of paleodietary information when coupled with the incremental dentine method.

Materials and Methods

Six tooth samples (2 per individual), four of which contained pulp stones, were selected from three Early Neolithic (3720–3650 cal BC) individuals from the Whitwell Long Cairn in Derbyshire, England. After demineralization, each tooth was divided into 1 mm increments. Stable isotope analysis of collagen was conducted on each dentine increment and a portion of each pulp stone.

Results

All samples met the quality control criteria for well‐preserved collagen. Excluding the pulp stones, the mean δ¹³C value of the teeth sampled was −21.5 ± 0.2‰ and the mean δ¹⁵N value was 9.9 ± 0.5‰, suggesting these individuals had a terrestrial‐based diet. The pulp stones produced similar δ¹³C values between −21.6 and −21.4‰ and δ¹⁵N values between 9.1 and 9.8‰.

Discussion

The results demonstrate that paleodietary information can be obtained from pulp stones through stable isotope analysis. There are, however, significant challenges in interpreting this data, particularly as to inferring the timing and duration of their formation. The pulp stone results were compared with the incremental dentine profiles for each person to further investigate when they might have formed. For two individuals, the pulp stones appear to reflect diet from a time period after childhood and adolescence. For the third individual, it could not be determined if the pulp stones reflect a contemporary or later time period than the incremental dentine series. All teeth with pulp stones have moderate to severe wear on the occlusal surface, which could have been a contributing factor to their development.

Revealing lost secrets about Yingpan Man and the Silk Road

Yingpan Man, is one of the most exquisitely preserved mummies found in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. Here links between Yingpan Man and the Silk Road are explored through a detailed isotopic and bioarchaeological investigation of his life history. Analytical techniques of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur stable isotope ratio analysis on hair, teeth, muscle and bones as well as associated animal and plant remains, radiocarbon dating and starch grain analysis of dental calculus are presented to visualize never before seen aspects of Yingpan Man’s life, including: environment, breastfeeding and weaning practices, adolescent and adult diet, disease and nutritional status as well as season of death. Furthermore, in combination with a detailed review of his associated grave goods, this research examines the social status and identity of Yingpan Man, and demonstrates the profound impact and cultural fusion that the Silk Road had upon the peoples of Xinjiang and Eurasia.

Sidon on the breadth of the wild sea: Movement and diet on the Mediterranean coast in the Middle Bronze Age

OBJECTIVES

Excavations at Sidon (Lebanon) have revealed dual identities during the Middle Bronze Age (ca. 2000-1600 BCE): a maritime port and center for local distribution, as well as a settlement with a heavy subsistence dependence on the extensive inland hinterlands. We aim to investigate residential mobility at Sidon using isotopic analyses of 112 individuals from 83 burials (20 females, 26 males, and 37 subadults). Veneration and remembrance of the dead is evident from funerary offerings in and near the tombs. With marine fish a major component in funerary offerings, we predict major marine reliance in this coastal population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

New isotopic evidence of paleomobility (⁸⁷ Sr/⁸⁶ Sr, δ¹⁸ O) and diet (δ¹³ C_carbonate ) is the focus of this research. Previous bulk bone collagen δ¹³ C and δ¹⁵ N analysis is strengthened by further sampling, along with δ³⁴ S where collagen yield was sufficient.

RESULTS

The five non-locals identified (8.9% of the 56 analyzed) come from constructed tombs with high-status grave goods except for one, which was heavily disturbed in antiquity. Dietary investigation of the population confirms reliance on terrestrial resources with no significant marine input. No significant differences in diet between the sexes or burial types are present.

CONCLUSIONS

Although Sidon was part of a growing Mediterranean network evidenced through artefactual finds, relatively low immigration is evident. While religious feasts venerating the dead may have involved significant piscine components, no appreciable marine input in diet is observed. Fish may have been reserved for the deceased or only consumed on feast days alongside the dead rather than a regular part of the Bronze Age menu.

A modern baseline for the paired isotopic analysis of skin and bone in terrestrial mammals

We present the isotopic discrimination between paired skin and bone collagen from animals of known life history, providing a modern baseline for the interpretation of archaeological isotopic data. At present, the interpretation of inter-tissue variation (Δ_(skin-bone)) in mummified remains is based on comparisons with other archaeological material, which have attributed divergence to their contrasting turnover rates, with rapidly remodelling skin collagen incorporating alterations in environmental, cultural and physiological conditions in the months prior to death. While plausible, the lack of baseline data from individuals with known life histories has hindered evaluation of the explanations presented. Our analysis of a range of animals raised under a variety of management practices showed a population-wide trend for skin collagen to be depleted in ¹³C by -0.7‰ and enriched in ¹⁵N by +1.0‰ relative to bone collagen, even in stillborn animals. These results are intriguing and difficult to explain using current knowledge; however, on the basis of the findings reported here, we caution any results which interpret simply on differing turnover rates. We hypothesize that there may be a consistent difference in the routing of dietary protein and lipids between skin and bone, with potentially on-site synthesis of non-essential amino acids using carbon and nitrogen that have been sourced via different biochemical pathways.

Breastfeeding and weaning in Late Holocene hunter-gatherers of the lower Paraná wetland, South America

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we analyze breastfeeding and weaning practices in pre-Columbian complex hunter-gatherers from the lower Paraná River basin (South America).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We carried out bone isotope analyses concerning δ¹³ C in collagen and apatite, the spacing between both carbon sources and δ¹⁵ N in a sample of 23 subadult and adult individuals of both sexes recovered from Late Holocene archaeological sites, ranging from 1665 ± 45 to 680 ± 80 ¹⁴ C years BP.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The results indicate that exclusive breastfeeding continued until the age of ~2 years, and weaning probably until 4 years of age. Supplementary foods included C₃ plants and probably animal fats and C₄ carbohydrates. A high fractionation of 4.9‰ in δ¹⁵ N values was recognized between breastfeeding infants and adult females, perhaps reflecting episodic hyper-protein diets in women linked to men's food provisioning during women's gestational/postpartum period. Additionally, male adults present a higher protein intake than females. Although this difference is not statistically significant with the current sample size, it could be a clue related to a sexual division in food procurement.

Trophic ecology of sympatric batoid species (Chondrichthyes: Batoidea) assessed by multiple biogeochemical tracers (δ13C, δ15N and total Hg)

Aquatic pollution is known to reduce biodiversity and disrupt wildlife populations. Mercury (Hg) pollution is pervasive worldwide, contributing to the degradation of ecosystems, and causing deleterious effects to exposed organisms and populations. Batoids have a life history linked to the benthic substrate of coastal areas and occupy upper trophic levels. These combined with large bodies, long lifespan, and slow growth rates contributes to increased uptake and accumulation of Hg. However, mechanisms governing these associations are not well understood. Using multiple biogeochemical tracers (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N and total Hg), we describe trophic interactions of three sympatric batoid species inhabiting an urbanized estuary and identify diet sources that contribute to Hg accumulation and trophic position among these mesopredators. We also use the Bat-ray (Myliobatis californica) as a model species, to compare diet composition, trophic position, and isotopic niche between two populations in two Californian bays. Trophic plasticity in M. californica was characterized by isotopic niche, diet proportions, and trophic position estimates using Bayesian statistics. We found diet and local contamination background strongly associated with Hg accumulation, and Hg levels that exceed EPA water quality criterion (<0.3 μg.g^-1 w.w.) in all studied species.

How Does Diet Influence Our Lives? Evaluating the Relationship between Isotopic Signatures and Mortality Patterns in Italian Roman Imperial and Medieval Periods

The present research investigates the relationship between dietary habits and mortality patterns in the Roman Imperial and Medieval periods. The reconstructions of population dynamics and subsistence strategies provide a fascinating source of information for understanding our history. This is particularly true given that the changes in social, economic, political, and religious aspects related to the transition from the Roman period to the Middle Ages have been widely discussed. We analyzed the isotopic and mortality patterns of 616 individuals from 18 archeological sites (the Medieval Latium sites of Colonna, Santa Severa, Allumiere, Cencelle, and 14 Medieval and Imperial funerary contexts from Rome) to compile a survivorship analysis. A semi-parametric approach was applied, suggesting variations in mortality patterns between sexes in the Roman period. Nitrogen isotopic signatures influenced mortality in both periods, showing a quadratic and a linear effect for Roman Imperial and Medieval populations, respectively. No influence of carbon isotopic signatures has been detected for Roman Imperial populations. Conversely, increased mortality risk for rising carbon isotopic values was observed in Medieval samples.

Stable Isotope Abundance and Fractionation in Human Diseases

The natural abundance of heavy stable isotopes (¹³C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁸O, etc.) is now of considerable importance in many research fields, including human physiology. In fact, it varies between tissues and metabolites due to isotope effects in biological processes, that is, isotope discriminations between heavy and light isotopic forms during enzyme or transporter activity. The metabolic deregulation associated with many diseases leads to alterations in metabolic fluxes, resulting in changes in isotope abundance that can be identified easily with current isotope ratio technologies. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on changes in natural isotope composition in samples (including various tissues, hair, plasma, saliva) found in patients compared to controls, caused by human diseases. We discuss the metabolic origin of such isotope fractionations and highlight the potential of using isotopes at natural abundance for medical diagnosis and/or prognostic.

Stable isotope analysis of human bone from Ganj Dareh, Iran, ca. 10,100 calBP

We report here on stable carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur isotope values from bone collagen of human (n = 20) and faunal (n = 11) remains from the Early Neolithic site of Ganj Dareh, Iran, dating to ca. 10,100 cal. BP. Our focus explores how isotope values of human bone vary by age and sex, and evaluates dietary practices at this site. It also provides a baseline for future studies of subsistence in the early Holocene Central Zagros Mountains, from the site with the first evidence for human ovicaprid management in the Near East. Human remains include individuals of all age groups for dietary reconstruction, as well two Ottoman intrusive burials for temporal and cultural comparison. All analyzed individuals exhibited δ13C and δ15N values consistent with a diet based heavily on C3 terrestrial sources. There is no statistically significant difference between the isotopic compositions of the two sexes, though males appear to show larger variations compared to females. Interesting patterns in the isotopic compositions of the subadults suggested weaning children may be fed with supplements with distinctive δ13C values. Significant difference in sulfur isotope values between humans and fauna could be the earliest evidence of transhumance and could identify one older adult male as a possible transhumant shepherd. Both Ottoman individuals had distinctively different δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S values compared to the Neolithic individuals. This is the first large scale analysis of human stable isotopes from the eastern end of the early Holocene Fertile Crescent. It provides a baseline for future intersite exploration of stable isotopes and insight into the lifeways, health, and processes of neolithisation associated with the origins of goat domestication at Ganj Dareh and the surrounding Central Zagros.

The "weanling's dilemma" revisited: Evolving bodies of evidence and the problem of infant paleodietary interpretation

Breastfeeding is known to be a powerful mediator of maternal and childhood health, with impacts throughout the life course. Paleodietary studies of the past 30 years have accordingly taken an enduring interest in the health and diet of young children as a potential indicator of population fertility, subsistence, and mortality patterns. While progress has been made in recent decades toward acknowledging the agency of children, many paleodietary reconstructions have failed to incorporate developments in cognate disciplines revealing synergistic dynamics between maternal and offspring biology. Paleodietary interpretation has relied heavily on the "weanling's dilemma," in which infants are thought to face a bleak choice between loss of immunity or malnutrition. Using a review of immunological and epidemiological evidence for the dynamic and supportive role that breastfeeding plays throughout the complementary feeding period, this article offers context and nuance for understanding past feeding transitions. We suggest that future interpretative frameworks for infant paleodietary and bioarchaeological research should include a broad knowledge base that keeps pace with relevant developments outside of those disciplines.

Early specialized maritime and maize economies on the north coast of Peru

We assess diet and economies of middle Holocene (∼7,500 to 4,000 calibrated [cal] B.P.) humans at coexisting mound sites (Huaca Prieta and Paredones) in north coastal Peru and document regular consumption of maize by ∼6,500 to 6,000 cal B.P. and its earliest use as a staple food in this area of the Andes between 5,000 and 4,500 cal B.P. Stable isotope data from enamel carbonates and dentin collagen (childhood diet) and dental microwear texture analysis (adult diet) demonstrate dietary and economic specialization. Previous studies revealed maize and mixed-food refuse at both sites, but this study documents actual food consumption, showing that these communities situated a few hundred meters apart had significantly distinct diets in childhood and adulthood. Huaca Prieta focused on marine resources, although there are some contributions from terrestrial meat. Paredones individuals primarily consumed maize during childhood (up to 70% of the juvenile diet), as shown by δ¹³C values, apatite-collagen spacing, and discriminant analysis of δ¹³C_coll, δ¹³C_carb, and δ¹⁵N values. Maize was likely used as a weaning food (e.g., gruel and/or chicha-a maize beverage), hinting at the significant role of breastfeeding mothers, weanling infants, and children in the development of maize as a staple crop. Additionally, dental microwear data show Paredones adult diets are high in abrasives, potentially from maize processing. The distinct foodways at these neighboring sites result from and also reflect their social and political distinctions. These differences in food production, distribution, and consumption generated opportunities for exchange, an interaction that bound them together in mutual benefit.

The dietary behavior of two early medieval individuals with temporomandibular ankylosis

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to reconstruct the dietary behavior of two early medieval individuals who display gnathic malformation.

MATERIAL

Two skeletons affected by temporomandibular ankylosis were analyzed, one from the Great Moravian burial site of Rajhradice (9th century AD, Czech Republic), and the other from the Avar burial site of Schӧnkirchen (8th century AD, Austria).

METHODS

Carbon and nitrogen isotopic values were measured from the bone collagen of both individuals. In the Rajhradice case, where the childhood origin of ankylosis is deduced, isotopic analysis of dentine sections was performed.

RESULTS

Both individuals show isotopic values within the range of variation of a contemporaneous population sample. There was no observable dietary change in the Rajhradice individual that could be linked to the occurrence of ankylosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Both individuals consumed diets typical for their populations. They appear to not have restricted access to foodstuffs, namely animal protein, which would likely have had to be served in liquid (e.g. milk) or in a highly mashed form to compensate for insufficient mastication.

SIGNIFICANCE

This finding provides specific evidence of care provided to these two afflicted members of past populations.

LIMITATIONS

Though the proportion of animal protein is an important indicator of the quality of diet, many other aspects of diet - such as micronutrient content - elude stable isotope analysis.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH

Amino acid compound specific isotope analyses of collagen would provide deeper insight into both the diet and physiology of the affected individuals.

Characteristic of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Tissues Using Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry

Overall prognosis for patients with oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSSC) is still unfavourable. However, there is a hope that a novel diagnostic method may establish better cancer biology characteristics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the isotope ratio of nitrogen and carbon in OSSC as compared to margin and healthy tissue. A total of 18 patients with OSSC were included in the study. Specimens collected covered: four tumour, four margin and two healthy oral mucosa samples. The samples underwent further procedures: lyophilization and isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Measurements of the ratio of stable isotopes of nitrogen ¹⁵N/¹⁴N and carbon ¹³C/¹²C were performed. It is noticeable that the highest average nitrogen concentration was observed in tumour 12 ± 0.4% and the lowest in healthy tissues 8 ± 0.9% (p < 0.00001). The highest average carbon content was observed in healthy tissues 57 ± 2.2% and the lowest in tumour 46 ± 1.3% (p < 0.00001). Moreover, values of ¹⁵N/¹⁴N expressed in delta notation were the highest in healthy tissues 9.84 ± 0.61 and the lowest in tumour 8.92 ± 0.58. Values of ¹³C/¹²C tended to be higher in tumour −22.2 ± 0.89 and the lowest in healthy tissues −23.7 ± 1.2. Tumour tissues differ in isotopic composition from tissues taken from margin and healthy tissues taken from distant oral mucosa.

Reprint of: The effects of decomposition and environment on antemortem H-Pb-Sr isotope compositions and degradation of human scalp hair: Actualistic taphonomic observations

Multi-isotope analysis (e.g., Sr-Pb-O-H-C-N) of human scalp hair is routinely used in forensic investigations of human remains to constrain the geographic origin of unidentified bodies, and to investigate antemortem mobility patterns. However, while it is known that postmortem processes can affect the preservation of, or even overprint, the biogenic isotopic signatures in hair, the speed and nature of these processes have rarely been studied. This study investigates the effects of decomposition and environment on the H-Pb-Sr isotope compositions of human hair as well as the relationship between structural hair shaft degradation and isotopic signature change over time. Human scalp hair samples from four body donations were collected at different stages throughout gross body decomposition. The willed-donated bodies were placed to decompose outdoors at the Forensic Anthropology Research Facility (FARF) at Texas State University. Hair fibres from two of the donations were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution light microscopy (HRLM). Chemical and microbiological degradation of hair fibres occurred rapidly after placement of the body outdoors. Measurements of scalp hair isotopic composition demonstrated that H-Pb-Sr isotope ratios were altered within days after environmental exposure, presumably by deposition, leaching and/or exchange with the local bioavailable soil, and vapour. The degree of physical hair degradation and changes in H-Pb-Sr isotope composition were not correlated. We conclude that antemortem isotopic H-Pb-Sr isotope ratios are difficult to recover in hairs derived from decomposing whole bodies.

Seasonality and interindividual variation in mandrill feeding ecology revealed by stable isotope analyses of hair and blood

Mandrills are large-bodied terrestrial forest primates living in particularly large social groups of several hundred individuals. Following these groups in the wild to assess differences in diet over time as well as among individuals is demanding. We here use isotope analyses in blood and hair obtained during repeated captures of 43 identified free-ranging mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) from Southern Gabon, to test how dietary variation relates to the season as well as an individual's age and sex. We measured the stable carbon (δ¹³ C‰) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵ N‰) isotope ratios in 46 blood and 214 hair section samples as well as from a small selection of mandrill foods (n = 24). We found some seasonal isotopic effects, with lower δ¹³ C values but higher δ¹⁵ N values observed during the highly competitive long dry season compared to the fruit-rich long rainy season. Variation in δ¹³ C was further predicted by individual age, with higher δ¹³ C values generally found in younger individuals suggesting that they may consume more high canopy fruit than older individuals, or that older individuals consume more low canopy foliage. The best predictor for δ¹⁵ N values was the interaction between age and sex, with mature and reproductively active males revealing the highest δ¹⁵ N values, despite the observation that males consume substantially less animal food items than females. We interpret high δ¹⁵ N values in these mature male mandrill blood and hair sections to be the result of nutritional stress associated with intense male-male competition, particularly during mating season. This is the first study showing isotopic evidence for nutritional stress in a free-ranging primate species and may spark further investigations into male mandrill diet and energy balance.

Socioeconomic and geographic implications from carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur isotope ratios in human hair from Mexico

This article presents data on carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S) isotopic composition of human hair collected throughout Mexico. The recorded values ranged from -18.3‰ to -12.8‰ for δ¹³C, 6.8‰ to 10.8‰ for δ¹⁵N and from 2.7‰ to 8.0‰ for δ³⁴S. The socioeconomic covariates explored in this study showed, in part strong correlations with the recorded isotope values. Furthermore, these three isotope systems provide records of the dietary preferences and practices and also showed some spatial variation. This study detected geospatial patterning in the δ¹³C values of hair samples from Mexico as well as significant correlations with socioeconomic factors. No geospatial variation was detected in the δ¹⁵N and δ³⁴S values, however, socioeconomic correlations were found. A δ¹³C isoscape was generated using a GIS approach, which provides a tool to narrow down region-of-origin predictions (in combination with other isotope systems) and to document the travel history of unidentified individuals.

Stable isotopic signatures in modern wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) hairs as telltale biomarkers of nutritional stress

Assessing the challenges faced by wildlife populations is key to providing effective management but is problematic when dealing with populations in remote locations. Analyses of the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope composition (expressed as δ13C and δ15N values) of sequentially grown tissues, such as hairs, can be used to track changes in the eco-physiology of organisms. We generated δ13C and δ15N values from sequentially sampled (n = 465) hairs taken from wood bison (Bison bison athabascae Rhoads, 1898) (n = 27). Samples were taken from individuals prior to and after their release from captivity into the lower Innoko–Yukon river area of Alaska in 2015. Twenty months after release, individuals had a distinct seasonal pattern in δ13C values. Hairs from individuals that experienced food scarcity or long-distance movement were sampled as case studies. Nutritional stress in these cases lead to a rise in δ15N values and a decrease in δ13C values. Applications of δ13C and δ15N analyses of bison tail hairs could provide wildlife managers a valuable and minimally invasive tool to better understand bison seasonal metabolic status and determine the historical health and behavior of living and dead individuals.

How isotopic signatures relate to meat consumption in wild chimpanzees: A critical reference study from Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire

The roots of human hunting and meat eating lie deep in our evolutionary past shared with chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). From the few habituated wild populations, we know that there is considerable variation in the extent to which chimpanzees consume meat. Expanding our knowledge of meat eating frequencies to more, yet unhabituated, populations requires noninvasive, indirect quantitative techniques. We here evaluate the use of stable isotopes to reconstruct meat-eating behavior in wild chimpanzees. We present hair isotope data (n = 260) of two western chimpanzee (P. troglodytes verus) groups from Taï forest (Côte d'Ivoire) and relate them to directly observed amounts of meat consumed, sex/female reproductive state, and group, while controlling for differences between individuals, seasons, and observation efforts. Succeeding seven months of hunting observations, we collected hair of 25 individuals for sequential analysis of δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C. Hunting success in the 7-month study period varied between the groups, with 25 successful hunts in the East group and only 8 in the North group. However, our models only found a direct relationship between amounts of meat consumed and variation within individual hair δ¹⁵N values in the East group, but not in the North group and not when comparing between individuals or groups. Although on average East group individuals consumed more than double the amount of meat than North group individuals, their δ¹⁵N values were significantly lower, suggesting that differences in microhabitat are substantial between group territories. The effect of sex/female reproductive state was significant in δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C, suggesting it related to access to food or feeding preferences. We conclude that several factors additional to diet are influencing and thus obscuring the isotope ratios in wild chimpanzee hair, particularly when comparing between sexes and social groups.

Differential changes to splanchnic and peripheral protein metabolism during the diet-induced development of metabolic syndrome in rats

Little is known about the effects of the development of metabolic syndrome (MS) on protein and amino acid (AA) metabolism. During this study, we took advantage of the variability in interindividual susceptibility to high fat diet-induced MS to study the relationships between MS, protein synthesis, and AA catabolism in multiple tissues in rats. After 4 mo of high-fat feeding, an MS score (Z_MS) was calculated as the average of the z-scores for individual MS components [weight, adiposities, homeostasis model for the assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and triglycerides]. In the small intestine, liver, plasma, kidneys, heart, and muscles, tissue protein synthesis was measured by ²H₂O labeling, and we evaluated the proportion of tissue AA catabolism (relative to protein synthesis) and nutrient routing to nonindispensable AAs in tissue proteins using natural nitrogen and carbon isotopic distances between tissue proteins and nutrients (Δ¹⁵N and Δ¹³C), respectively. In the liver, protein mass and synthesis increased, whereas the proportion of AA catabolism decreased with Z_MS. By contrast, in muscles, we found no association between Z_MS and protein mass, protein synthesis (except for a weak positive association in the gastrocnemius muscle only), and proportion of AA catabolism. The development of MS was also associated with altered metabolic flexibility and fatty acid oxidation, as shown by less routing of dietary lipids to nonindispensable AA synthesis in liver and muscle. In conclusion, MS development is associated with a greater gain of both fat and protein masses, with higher protein anabolism that mainly occurs in the liver, whereas muscles probably develop anabolic resistance due to insulin resistance.

The effects of decomposition and environment on antemortem H-Pb-Sr isotope compositions and degradation of human scalp hair: Actualistic taphonomic observations

Multi-isotope analysis (e.g., Sr-Pb-O-H-C-N) of human scalp hair is routinely used in forensic investigations of human remains to constrain the geographic origin of unidentified bodies, and to investigate antemortem mobility patterns. However, while it is known that postmortem processes can affect the preservation of, or even overprint, the biogenic isotopic signatures in hair, the speed and nature of these processes have rarely been studied. This study investigates the effects of decomposition and environment on the H-Pb-Sr isotope compositions of human hair as well as the relationship between structural hair shaft degradation and isotopic signature change over time. Human scalp hair samples from four body donations were collected at different stages throughout gross body decomposition. The willed-donated bodies were placed to decompose outdoors at the Forensic Anthropology Research Facility (FARF) at Texas State University. Hair fibers from two of the donations were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution light microscopy (HRLM). Chemical and microbiological degradation of hair fibers occurred rapidly after placement of the body outdoors. Measurements of scalp hair isotopic composition demonstrated that H-Pb-Sr isotope ratios were altered within days after environmental exposure, presumably by deposition, leaching and/or exchange with the local bioavailable soil, and vapor. The degree of physical hair degradation and changes in H-Pb-Sr isotope composition were not correlated. We conclude that antemortem isotopic H-Pb-Sr isotope ratios are difficult to recover in hairs derived from decomposing whole bodies.

A multi-isotope, multi-tissue study of colonial origins and diet in New Zealand

OBJECTIVES

Colonial period New Zealand was lauded as a land of plenty, where colonists could improve their station in life and secure a future for their families. Our understanding of colonial experience, however, is often shaped by historical records which communicate a state-sponsored version of history. This study aims to reconstruct the lives of settlers using isotopic evidence from the colonial skeletons themselves.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We use skeletal remains from recently excavated colonial sites in Otago (South Island, New Zealand) to illustrate the information that can be gleaned from the isotopic analysis of individuals. We use ⁸⁷ Sr/⁸⁶ Sr to identify European settlers, and δ¹³ C and δ¹⁵ N from collagen and hair keratin, as well as dental enamel carbonate δ¹³ C to trace dietary change over their life-courses.

RESULTS

Strontium isotope analysis shows that all adults in our sample are non-local. Dietary isotopes show that while most individuals had relatively consistent childhood diet, one individual with more rural origins likely had seasonal use of resources during childhood. While some members of the population seem to have increased their meat intake in the new colony most do not have clear evidence for this.

DISCUSSION

We show the diversity of human experience in first-generation New Zealanders both prior to emigration and in the new colony. Despite colonial propaganda claiming that circumstances in New Zealand were improved for all settlers, we have little evidence for this, aside from among individuals of potentially high status.

Prenatal effects of maternal nutritional stress and mental health on the fetal movement profile

Purpose

Prenatal sub-optimal nutrition and exposure to maternal stress, anxiety and depression in pregnancy have been linked to increased postnatal morbidity and mortality. Fetal growth is most vulnerable to maternal dietary deficiencies, such as those evident in hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), early in pregnancy. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effects of HG on fetal movement profiles as a measure of fetal healthy development in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, and to assess whether nutritional stress on the mother can be evaluated using isotopic analysis of hair.

Method

We analyzed fetal movement profiles using 4D ultrasound scans at 32- and 36-weeks' gestation. Fetuses of women (N = 6) diagnosed with HG, having lost more than 10% of their body weight in the first trimester of pregnancy were compared to a healthy group (N = 6), controlling for stress, depression and anxiety. We tested carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in maternal hair as a measure of both diet and nutritional changes due to catabolism of body proteins and fats.

Results

HG and catabolism were significantly correlated (p = 0.02). Furthermore, at 32-weeks' gestation movement profiles of fetuses of mothers with HG differed significantly from the movement profiles of fetuses of healthy mothers. Fetuses of mothers suffering from HG showed a significantly increased ratio of fine-grained movements at 32 weeks (p = 0.008); however, there were no significant differences detectable at 36-weeks' gestation.

Conclusion

The effect of HG on fetal development as expressed by variations in fetal movement profiles in this pilot study suggest that prenatal effects of HG can be measured using movement profiles. Isotope analysis of hair can supplement this with information on nutritional imbalances early in pregnancy.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00404-020-05571-w) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Assessment of nutritional stress in famine burials using stable isotope analysis

OBJECTIVES

We compared δ¹⁵ N and δ¹³ C values from bone and dentine collagen profiles of individuals interred in famine-related and attritional burials to evaluate whether individuals in medieval London who experienced nutritional stress exhibit enriched nitrogen in bone and tooth tissue. Dentine profiles were evaluated to identify patterns that may be indicative of famine during childhood and were compared with the age of enamel hypoplasia (EH) formation to assess whether isotopic patterns of undernutrition coincide with the timing of physiological stress.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

δ¹⁵ N and δ¹³ C isotope ratios of bone collagen were obtained from individuals (n = 128) interred in attritional and famine burials from a medieval London cemetery (c. 1120-1539). Temporal sequences of δ¹⁵ N and δ¹³ C isotope profiles for incrementally forming dentine collagen were obtained from a subset of these individuals (n = 21).

RESULTS

Results indicate that individuals from attritional graves exhibit significantly higher δ¹⁵ N values but no significant differences were found between burial types for the sexes. Analyses of dentine profiles reveal that a lower proportion of famine burials exhibit stable dentine profiles and that several exhibit a pattern of opposing covariance between δ¹⁵ N and δ¹³ C. EH were also observed to have formed during or after the opposing covariance pattern for some individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study may reflect differences in diet between burial types rather than nutritional stress. Though nutritional stress could not be definitively identified using bone and dentine collagen, the results from dentine analysis support previous observations of biochemical patterns associated with nutritional stress during childhood.

Raising girls and boys in early China: Stable isotope data reveal sex differences in weaning and childhood diets during the eastern Zhou era

Objectives

Using stable isotope analysis of incremental dentin segments, we reconstruct breastfeeding, weaning, and childhood dietary patterns of Eastern Zhou period (771–221 BC) individuals from the Central Plains of China. Previous isotopic research on the Eastern Zhou demonstrated dietary difference between male and female diets in adulthood via bone collagen analysis. To understand the development of gendered dietary patterns we must examine the early life period. We aim to identify the timing of the weaning process, whether childhood diets were the same as adulthood diets, and if there were differences between the diets of boys and girls during childhood.

Materials and Methods

We present incremental dentin and bone collagen δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N isotope data from 23 individuals from two Eastern Zhou archaeological sites (Xiyasi 西亚斯and Changxinyuan 畅馨苑).

Results

Weaning was completed between ages 2.5 and 4 years. Females were weaned slightly earlier than males. Early childhood diets show significant incorporation of C₃ foods, such as wheat and soybean, for almost all children, while later adulthood diets indicate greater incorporation of C₄ foods (millets), particularly for males.

Discussion

Childhood diets included greater amounts of C₃ foods than expected, suggesting that grains such as wheat may have been adopted in these communities as foods for children. Nevertheless, dietary differentiation between females and males began in childhood, with boys eating more millets (C₄ foods) than girls. The findings suggest that feeding children was a significant aspect of socialization and cultural gendering of individuals in ancient China.

Stoichiometric and stable isotope ratios of wild lizards in an urban landscape vary with reproduction, physiology, space and time

Spatial and temporal variation in stoichiometric and stable isotope ratios of animals contains ecological information that we are just beginning to understand. In both field and lab studies, stoichiometric or isotopic ratios are related to physiological mechanisms underlying nutrition or stress. Conservation and ecosystem ecology may be informed by isotopic data that can be rapidly and non-lethally collected from wild animals, especially where human activity leaves an isotopic signature (e.g. via introduction of chemical fertilizers, ornamental or other non-native plants or organic detritus). We examined spatial and temporal variation in stoichiometric and stable isotope ratios of the toes of Uta stansburiana (side-blotched lizards) living in urban and rural areas in and around St. George, Utah. We found substantial spatial and temporal variation as well as context-dependent co-variation with reproductive physiological parameters, although certain key predictions such as the relationship between δ¹⁵N and body condition were not supported. We suggest that landscape change through urbanization can have profound effects on wild animal physiology and that stoichiometric and stable isotope ratios can provide unique insights into the mechanisms underlying these processes.

Weaning and stunting affect nitrogen and carbon stable isotope natural abundances in the hair of young children

Natural abundances of stable nitrogen and carbon isotopes (δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C) can vary with both dietary intake and metabolic (specifically catabolic) state. In low-income countries, weaning is a period of dietary transition from milk to plant-based foods and a high-risk period for malnutrition. We explored how diet and malnutrition impact hair δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C in young children by an observational, cross-sectional study in Cox’s Bazar District, Bangladesh [255 children, 6–59 months with 19.6% wasted (7.1% severely) and 36% stunted (9.8% severely)]. Hair δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C exhibited exponential decreases with age, with the loss of one trophic level (3.3‰ and 0.8‰, respectively) from 6 to 48 months, which we associate with the shift from exclusive breastfeeding to complete weaning. After adjustment for age and breastfeeding status, hair isotopic values were unaffected by wasting but lower in severe stunting (−0.45‰ to −0.6‰, P < 0.01). In this population of young children, whose isotopic values in hair primarily depended on age, we failed to observe any effect of wasting, likely due to opposite, compensating effects between dietary and metabolic changes involved. In contrast, we evidenced low δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C values in severely stunted children that likely indicate chronic exposure to diets low in animal products.

A multidisciplinary approach for investigating dietary and medicinal habits of the Medieval population of Santa Severa (7th-15th centuries, Rome, Italy)

A multidisciplinary approach, combining stable isotope analysis from bone proteins and investigations on dental calculus using DNA analysis, light microscopy, and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, was applied to reconstruct dietary and medicinal habits of the individuals recovered in the cemetery of the Castle of Santa Severa (7^th-15^th centuries CE; Rome, Italy). Stable isotope analysis was performed on 120 humans, 41 faunal specimens and 8 charred seeds. Dental calculus analyses were carried out on 94 samples. Overall, isotope data indicated an omnivorous diet based on C₃-terrestrial protein, although some individuals possessed carbon values indicative of C₄ plant consumption. In terms of animal protein, the diet was probably based on cattle, sheep, pig and chicken products, as witnessed by the archaeozoological findings. Evidence from calculus suggested the consumption of C₃ cereals, Fabaceae, Fagaceae, milk and dairy products. Secondary metabolites of herbs and wine were also detected. The detection of marine fish ancient DNA, as well as of ω3 fatty acids in calculus, hypothesized the consumption of marine foodstuffs for this coastal population, despite the lack of a clear marine isotopic signal and the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids in plant tissues. Moreover, the knowledge of ethnopharmacological tradition and the application of medicinal plants (e.g. Punica granatum L., Ephedra sp. L.) were also identified. The detection of artemisinin, known to have antimalarial properties, led to hypothesize the presence of malaria in the area. Altogether, the combined application of microscopy and biomolecular techniques provided an innovative reconstruction of Medieval lifeways in Central Italy.

Advancing the understanding of treponemal disease in the past and present

Syphilis was perceived to be a new disease in Europe in the late 15th century, igniting a debate about its origin that continues today in anthropological, historical, and medical circles. We move beyond this age-old debate using an interdisciplinary approach that tackles broader questions to advance the understanding of treponemal infection (syphilis, yaws, bejel, and pinta). How did the causative organism(s) and humans co-evolve? How did the related diseases caused by Treponema pallidum emerge in different parts of the world and affect people across both time and space? How are T. pallidum subspecies related to the treponeme causing pinta? The current state of scholarship in specific areas is reviewed with recommendations made to stimulate future work. Understanding treponemal biology, genetic relationships, epidemiology, and clinical manifestations is crucial for vaccine development today and for investigating the distribution of infection in both modern and past populations. Paleopathologists must improve diagnostic criteria and use a standard approach for recording skeletal lesions on archaeological human remains. Adequate contextualization of cultural and environmental conditions is necessary, including site dating and justification for any corrections made for marine or freshwater reservoir effects. Biogeochemical analyses may assess aquatic contributions to diet, physiological changes arising from treponemal disease and its treatments (e.g., mercury), or residential mobility of those affected. Shifting the focus from point of origin to investigating who is affected (e.g., by age/sex or socioeconomic status) and disease distribution (e.g., coastal/ inland, rural/urban) will advance our understanding of the treponemal disease and its impact on people through time.

Effect of different healing stages on stable isotope ratios in skeletal lesions

INTRODUCTION

Physiological stress is one of the various factors that can have an impact on stable isotope ratios. However, its effect on bone collagen stable isotope ratios is still not fully understood. This study aims to build on previous research on how different disease stages may affect bone collagen stable isotope ratios.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Carbon (δ¹³ C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵ N) isotope ratios were assessed in 33 skeletons that retained evidence of infectious disease and healed fractures. Samples were taken from active lesions (long bones n = 14; ribs n = 4), healed lesions (long bones n = 10; ribs n = 9), or a fracture callus (long bones n = 9; ribs n = 3). Results were compared to stable isotope ratios calculated for regions on these bones that did not retain evidence of disease or fracture.

RESULTS

Long bones with active lesions had a significantly higher average δ¹⁵ N (δ¹⁵ N = 11.1 ± 0.9‰) compared to those without lesions (δ¹⁵ N = 10.7 ± 0.7‰; p = .02), while fracture calluses showed the largest range for both δ¹⁵ N and δ¹³ C. There were no significant differences in stable isotope ratios when compared between nonlesion and lesion sites in the ribs.

DISCUSSION

The increase in δ¹⁵ N seen in active lesions, when compared with δ¹⁵ N from nonlesion regions on the same long bone, may be a consequence of altered protein metabolism. The high variability of δ¹⁵ N and δ¹³ C in fractures may be related to different healing stages of the calluses. This study suggests that stable isotope data can contribute information about diseases in the past, as well as an individual's response to diseases in the absence of modern medicine and antibiotics.

A new method for investigating the relationship between diet and mortality: hazard analysis using dietary isotopes

Background: The population of Roman Britain are renowned for having elevated nitrogen (δ¹⁵) stable isotope values, which have been interpreted as evidence for the increased consumption of marine products. However, such results are now understood to also reflect episodes of stress and disease, suggesting that new interpretations are warranted.Aim: To test a novel approach which combines hazard mortality analysis and stable isotope data to determine whether there is a relationship between age-at-death, elevated δ¹⁵N values and mortality risk.Subjects and methods: This study used published osteological and dietary stable isotope data for nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) and carbon (δ¹³C) of 659 1st-5th century AD individuals aged >12 years old excavated from Roman cemeteries in Britain. The relationship between diet and mortality risk was assessed using the Gompertz hazard model, and differences in median reported isotope values between the sexes was determined using a Mann Whitney test.Results: It was discovered that higher δ¹⁵N levels are associated with elevated risks of mortality, whereas the opposite pattern was observed for δ¹³C, and males had higher median δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values.Conclusion: This study successfully demonstrated that stable isotope data can be integrated into hazard models, allowing one to connect diet and mortality in past populations. It supports the findings of other isotope studies which have established that individuals with childhood stress/trauma will have different isotope patterns.