Dataset Information

Isotope analysis of human dental calculus δ¹³ CO₃ ^2- : Investigating a potential new proxy for sugar consumption.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Dental calculus (mineralised dental plaque) is composed primarily of hydroxyapatite. We hypothesise that the carbonate component of dental calculus will reflect the isotopic composition of ingested simple carbohydrates. Therefore, dental calculus carbonates may be an indicator for sugar consumption, and an alternative to bone carbonate in isotopic palaeodiet studies.

Methods

We utilised Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflectance analysis to characterise the composition and crystallisation of bone and dental calculus before isotope analysis of carbonate. Using a Sercon 20-22 mass spectrometer coupled with a Sercon GSL sample preparation system and an IsoPrime 100 dual inlet mass spectrometer plus Multiprep device to measure carbon, we tested the potential of dental calculus carbonate to identify C₄ resources in diet through analysis of δ¹³ C values in paired bone, calculus and teeth mineral samples.

Results

The modern population shows higher δ¹³ C values in all three tissue carbonates compared to both archaeological populations. Clear differences in dental calculus δ¹³ C values are observed between the modern and archaeological individuals suggesting potential for utilising dental calculus in isotope palaeodiet studies. The offset between dental calculus and either bone or enamel carbonate δ¹³ C values is large and consistent in direction, with no consistent offset between the δ¹³ C values for the three tissues per individual.

Conclusions

Our results support dental calculus carbonate as a new biomaterial to identify C₄ sugar through isotope analysis. Greater carbon fractionation in the mouth is likely due to the complex formation of dental calculus as a mineralized biofilm, which results in consistently high δ¹³ C values compared to bone and enamel.

SUBMITTER: Chidimuro B

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9286614 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Human provenance studies employing isotopic analysis have become an essential tool in forensic and archaeological sciences, with multi-isotope approaches providing more specific location estimates compared to single isotope studies. This study reports on the human provenancing capability of neodymium isotopes (143Nd/144Nd), a relatively conservative tracer in the environment. Neodymium isotope ratios have only recently been determined on human remains due to low concentrations in human dental enamel (ppb range), requiring thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS) using 1013 Ω resistors. Dental elements (third molars) from 20 individuals born and raised in the Netherlands were analysed for Nd concentration (n = 12) and Nd isotope ratios (n = 15). The geological control on Nd isotope composition was examined using coupled Nd-Sr isotope analysis of the same third molar. Teeth from different geological environments were also analysed (Caribbean, Columbian, and Icelandic, n = 5). Neodymium elemental concentrations in dental elements ranged between 0.1 and 7.9 ppb (median 0.5 ppb). The Dutch 143Nd/144Nd ratios of the provinces of Limburg and Friesland were between 0.5118 and 0.5121, with Dutch 87Sr/86Sr ratios in agreement with the previously established local range (0.708-0.710). The current findings were compared to previously published results on Nd concentration and composition from Dutch individuals. The concentration of Nd and 143Nd/144Nd ratios were weakly correlated (R2 = 0.47, n = 17) in Dutch human dental enamel. The majority (n = 25, 83.3%) of individuals had Nd and Sr isotope values isotopically indistinguishable from the geological environment in which their third molars formed and mineralised. However, the Nd isotope ratios of the Icelandic individual and several Dutch individuals (n = 4) suggested that Nd in enamel is not solely influenced by geological environment. In order for neodymium isotopes to be quantitatively applied in forensic and archaeological settings further analyses of individuals from various geographical regions with well-defined dietary Nd isotope data are required.

Dataset Information

Isotope analysis of human dental calculus δ¹³ CO₃ ^2- : Investigating a potential new proxy for sugar consumption.

Rationale

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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Isotope analysis of human dental calculus δ13 CO3 2- : Investigating a potential new proxy for sugar consumption.

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OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

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Isotope analysis of human dental calculus δ¹³ CO₃ ^2- : Investigating a potential new proxy for sugar consumption.