Isotopic analysis of formula milk reveals potential challenges in geolocating bottle-fed babies
Abstract In forensic investigations involving the identification of unknown deceased individuals, isotope analysis can provide valuable provenance information. This is especially pertinent when primary identifiers (i.e., DNA, dactyloscopy, etc.) fail to yield matches. The isotopic composition of hum...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54173-y |
| _version_ | 1827139442806095872 |
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| author | Lisette M. Kootker Saskia T. M. Ammer Gareth R. Davies Christine Lehn |
| author_facet | Lisette M. Kootker Saskia T. M. Ammer Gareth R. Davies Christine Lehn |
| author_sort | Lisette M. Kootker |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In forensic investigations involving the identification of unknown deceased individuals, isotope analysis can provide valuable provenance information. This is especially pertinent when primary identifiers (i.e., DNA, dactyloscopy, etc.) fail to yield matches. The isotopic composition of human tissues is linked to that of the food consumed, potentially allowing the identification of regions of origin. However, the isotopic composition of deceased newborns and infants fed with milk formula may be influenced by that of the prepared milk. The findings contribute towards the possibility to isotopically identify bottle-fed infants. More importantly, the data convincingly show that the Sr isotope composition of the prepared milk is determined by that of the formula and not the (local) tap water, thereby limiting the potential of Sr isotope analysis for determining the geological or geographical origin in formula-fed babies in medico-legal cases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:02:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fca9242ca5db42d6a748e3cb633dd3ba |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-03-20T18:39:19Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-fca9242ca5db42d6a748e3cb633dd3ba2024-08-25T11:20:30ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-02-011411910.1038/s41598-024-54173-yIsotopic analysis of formula milk reveals potential challenges in geolocating bottle-fed babiesLisette M. Kootker0Saskia T. M. Ammer1Gareth R. Davies2Christine Lehn3Department of Earth Sciences, Geology & Geochemistry Cluster, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamDepartment of Earth Sciences, Geology & Geochemistry Cluster, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamDepartment of Earth Sciences, Geology & Geochemistry Cluster, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenAbstract In forensic investigations involving the identification of unknown deceased individuals, isotope analysis can provide valuable provenance information. This is especially pertinent when primary identifiers (i.e., DNA, dactyloscopy, etc.) fail to yield matches. The isotopic composition of human tissues is linked to that of the food consumed, potentially allowing the identification of regions of origin. However, the isotopic composition of deceased newborns and infants fed with milk formula may be influenced by that of the prepared milk. The findings contribute towards the possibility to isotopically identify bottle-fed infants. More importantly, the data convincingly show that the Sr isotope composition of the prepared milk is determined by that of the formula and not the (local) tap water, thereby limiting the potential of Sr isotope analysis for determining the geological or geographical origin in formula-fed babies in medico-legal cases.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54173-y |
| spellingShingle | Lisette M. Kootker Saskia T. M. Ammer Gareth R. Davies Christine Lehn Isotopic analysis of formula milk reveals potential challenges in geolocating bottle-fed babies Scientific Reports |
| title | Isotopic analysis of formula milk reveals potential challenges in geolocating bottle-fed babies |
| title_full | Isotopic analysis of formula milk reveals potential challenges in geolocating bottle-fed babies |
| title_fullStr | Isotopic analysis of formula milk reveals potential challenges in geolocating bottle-fed babies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Isotopic analysis of formula milk reveals potential challenges in geolocating bottle-fed babies |
| title_short | Isotopic analysis of formula milk reveals potential challenges in geolocating bottle-fed babies |
| title_sort | isotopic analysis of formula milk reveals potential challenges in geolocating bottle fed babies |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54173-y |
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