Chidimuro, Blessing, Mundorff, Amy, Speller, Camilla orcid.org/0000-0001-7128-9903 et al. (7 more authors) (2022) Isotope analysis of human dental calculus δ13 CO3 2-:investigating a potential new proxy for sugar consumption. Rapid communications in mass spectrometry. e9286. ISSN 1097-0231
Abstract
RATIONALE Dental calculus (mineralized dental plaque) is composed primarily of hydroxyapatite. We hypothesize 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 paleodiet studies. METHODS: We utilised FTIR-ATR 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 paleodiet studies. The offset between dental calculus and either bone or enamel carbonate δ13 C values are 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.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2022 The Authors |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Arts and Humanities (York) > Archaeology (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 01 Apr 2022 09:40 |
Last Modified: | 23 Jan 2025 00:28 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.9286 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1002/rcm.9286 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:185371 |
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Description: Isotope analysis of human dental calculusδ13CO32:Investigating a potential new proxy for sugar consumption
Licence: CC-BY 2.5