Reproductive life histories: can incremental dentine isotope analysis identify pubertal growth, pregnancy and lactation?
Background There are few reliable osteological indicators to detect parity or infer puberty in skeletal remains. Nitrogen (δ15N) and stable carbon (δ13C) isotope ratios in human tissues can be affected by metabolically unbalanced states engendered by pregnancy or rapid growth, offering potential bio...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2022-05-01
|
| Series: | Annals of Human Biology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03014460.2022.2091795 |
| _version_ | 1797685162941612032 |
|---|---|
| author | Corinne Feuillâtre Julia Beaumont Fadil Elamin |
| author_facet | Corinne Feuillâtre Julia Beaumont Fadil Elamin |
| author_sort | Corinne Feuillâtre |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background There are few reliable osteological indicators to detect parity or infer puberty in skeletal remains. Nitrogen (δ15N) and stable carbon (δ13C) isotope ratios in human tissues can be affected by metabolically unbalanced states engendered by pregnancy or rapid growth, offering potential biomarkers. Aim This pilot study explores the potential of incremental dentine-collagen isotope ratio analysis to identify puberty and gestation. Subjects and methods Incremental dentine δ15N and δ13C profiles were produced by analysing third molars extracted as part of dental treatment of 10 individuals living in Sudan. Demographic and anthropometric data at the time of tooth extraction was available. Medical histories were unknown. Results Isotopic signatures potentially related to pubertal growth, with an average δ15N reduction of 0.78 ± 0.29‰, are indicated. Six isotopic signals suggestive of pregnancy, with an average δ15N decrease of 0.48 ± 0.22‰, are also observed. The timing, speed and amplitude of post-partum δ15N patterns seemingly infer infant feeding practices and maternal nutritional status. Conclusion This pilot study highlights the potential of incremental dentine isotope analysis for the reconstruction of early reproductive histories in skeletal remains. However, controlled studies with a larger human cohort are needed to validate these findings, establish isotopic signals linked to puberty and lactation, and improve chronology accuracy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T00:40:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-499e35d5ccad4f5a801d0c93745e619f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0301-4460 1464-5033 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T00:40:09Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Human Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-499e35d5ccad4f5a801d0c93745e619f2023-09-15T08:45:20ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAnnals of Human Biology0301-44601464-50332022-05-01493-417119110.1080/03014460.2022.20917952091795Reproductive life histories: can incremental dentine isotope analysis identify pubertal growth, pregnancy and lactation?Corinne Feuillâtre0Julia Beaumont1Fadil Elamin2School of Archaeological and Forensic Sciences, University of BradfordSchool of Archaeological and Forensic Sciences, University of BradfordInstitute of Dentistry, Bart’s and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of LondonBackground There are few reliable osteological indicators to detect parity or infer puberty in skeletal remains. Nitrogen (δ15N) and stable carbon (δ13C) isotope ratios in human tissues can be affected by metabolically unbalanced states engendered by pregnancy or rapid growth, offering potential biomarkers. Aim This pilot study explores the potential of incremental dentine-collagen isotope ratio analysis to identify puberty and gestation. Subjects and methods Incremental dentine δ15N and δ13C profiles were produced by analysing third molars extracted as part of dental treatment of 10 individuals living in Sudan. Demographic and anthropometric data at the time of tooth extraction was available. Medical histories were unknown. Results Isotopic signatures potentially related to pubertal growth, with an average δ15N reduction of 0.78 ± 0.29‰, are indicated. Six isotopic signals suggestive of pregnancy, with an average δ15N decrease of 0.48 ± 0.22‰, are also observed. The timing, speed and amplitude of post-partum δ15N patterns seemingly infer infant feeding practices and maternal nutritional status. Conclusion This pilot study highlights the potential of incremental dentine isotope analysis for the reconstruction of early reproductive histories in skeletal remains. However, controlled studies with a larger human cohort are needed to validate these findings, establish isotopic signals linked to puberty and lactation, and improve chronology accuracy.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03014460.2022.2091795nitrogen isotopesdentinepubertygrowthpregnancy |
| spellingShingle | Corinne Feuillâtre Julia Beaumont Fadil Elamin Reproductive life histories: can incremental dentine isotope analysis identify pubertal growth, pregnancy and lactation? Annals of Human Biology nitrogen isotopes dentine puberty growth pregnancy |
| title | Reproductive life histories: can incremental dentine isotope analysis identify pubertal growth, pregnancy and lactation? |
| title_full | Reproductive life histories: can incremental dentine isotope analysis identify pubertal growth, pregnancy and lactation? |
| title_fullStr | Reproductive life histories: can incremental dentine isotope analysis identify pubertal growth, pregnancy and lactation? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reproductive life histories: can incremental dentine isotope analysis identify pubertal growth, pregnancy and lactation? |
| title_short | Reproductive life histories: can incremental dentine isotope analysis identify pubertal growth, pregnancy and lactation? |
| title_sort | reproductive life histories can incremental dentine isotope analysis identify pubertal growth pregnancy and lactation |
| topic | nitrogen isotopes dentine puberty growth pregnancy |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03014460.2022.2091795 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT corinnefeuillatre reproductivelifehistoriescanincrementaldentineisotopeanalysisidentifypubertalgrowthpregnancyandlactation AT juliabeaumont reproductivelifehistoriescanincrementaldentineisotopeanalysisidentifypubertalgrowthpregnancyandlactation AT fadilelamin reproductivelifehistoriescanincrementaldentineisotopeanalysisidentifypubertalgrowthpregnancyandlactation |