Ancient DNA suggests anaemia and low bone mineral density as the cause for porotic hyperostosis in ancient individuals
Abstract Porotic hyperostosis (PH) is a disease that had high prevalence during the Neolithic. Several hypotheses have been suggested to explain the origin of the disease, such as an iron deficiency diet, low B12 intake, malaria caused by Plasmodium spp., low haemoglobin levels or low vitamin D leve...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33405-7 |
| _version_ | 1797836458508156928 |
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| author | Manuel Ferrando-Bernal |
| author_facet | Manuel Ferrando-Bernal |
| author_sort | Manuel Ferrando-Bernal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Porotic hyperostosis (PH) is a disease that had high prevalence during the Neolithic. Several hypotheses have been suggested to explain the origin of the disease, such as an iron deficiency diet, low B12 intake, malaria caused by Plasmodium spp., low haemoglobin levels or low vitamin D levels. None of these hypotheses have been tested genetically. Here, I calculated different genetic scores to test each hypothesis. Additionally, I calculated a genetic score of bone mineral density as it is a phenotype that seems to be selected in ancient Europeans. I apply these genetic scores on 80 ancient samples, 33 with diagnosed PH. The results seem to suggest anaemia and low bone mineral density as the main cause for this disease. Additionally, Neolithic individuals show the lowest genetic risk score for bone mineral density of all other periods tested here, which may explain the highest prevalence of the porotic hyperostosis during this age. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:10:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0c9b4eb2a8744546a6172e709a4935bf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:10:19Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-0c9b4eb2a8744546a6172e709a4935bf2023-04-30T11:13:31ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-04-0113111010.1038/s41598-023-33405-7Ancient DNA suggests anaemia and low bone mineral density as the cause for porotic hyperostosis in ancient individualsManuel Ferrando-Bernal0UnaffiliatedAbstract Porotic hyperostosis (PH) is a disease that had high prevalence during the Neolithic. Several hypotheses have been suggested to explain the origin of the disease, such as an iron deficiency diet, low B12 intake, malaria caused by Plasmodium spp., low haemoglobin levels or low vitamin D levels. None of these hypotheses have been tested genetically. Here, I calculated different genetic scores to test each hypothesis. Additionally, I calculated a genetic score of bone mineral density as it is a phenotype that seems to be selected in ancient Europeans. I apply these genetic scores on 80 ancient samples, 33 with diagnosed PH. The results seem to suggest anaemia and low bone mineral density as the main cause for this disease. Additionally, Neolithic individuals show the lowest genetic risk score for bone mineral density of all other periods tested here, which may explain the highest prevalence of the porotic hyperostosis during this age.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33405-7 |
| spellingShingle | Manuel Ferrando-Bernal Ancient DNA suggests anaemia and low bone mineral density as the cause for porotic hyperostosis in ancient individuals Scientific Reports |
| title | Ancient DNA suggests anaemia and low bone mineral density as the cause for porotic hyperostosis in ancient individuals |
| title_full | Ancient DNA suggests anaemia and low bone mineral density as the cause for porotic hyperostosis in ancient individuals |
| title_fullStr | Ancient DNA suggests anaemia and low bone mineral density as the cause for porotic hyperostosis in ancient individuals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ancient DNA suggests anaemia and low bone mineral density as the cause for porotic hyperostosis in ancient individuals |
| title_short | Ancient DNA suggests anaemia and low bone mineral density as the cause for porotic hyperostosis in ancient individuals |
| title_sort | ancient dna suggests anaemia and low bone mineral density as the cause for porotic hyperostosis in ancient individuals |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33405-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT manuelferrandobernal ancientdnasuggestsanaemiaandlowbonemineraldensityasthecauseforporotichyperostosisinancientindividuals |