Isotope analysis of human dental calculus δ13CO32-: investigating a potential 
new proxy for sugar consumption

Chidimuro, Blessing; Mundorff, Amy; Speller, Camilla; Radini, Anita; Boudreault, Noémie; Lucas, Mary; Holst, Malin; Lamb, Angela; Collins, Matthew; Alexander, Michelle

doi:10.1002/rcm.9286

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Isotope analysis of human dental calculus δ¹³CO₃^2-: investigating a potential new proxy for sugar consumption

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Lucas, Mary
Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Max Planck Society;

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Citation

Chidimuro, B., Mundorff, A., Speller, C., Radini, A., Boudreault, N., Lucas, M., et al. (2022). Isotope analysis of human dental calculus δ¹³CO₃^2-: investigating a potential new proxy for sugar consumption. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 36(11): e9286, 1-15. doi:10.1002/rcm.9286.

Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-000A-2115-9

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 δ13C values in paired bone, calculus, and teeth mineral samples. -
RESULTS: The modern population shows higher δ13C values in all three tissue carbonates compared to both archaeological populations. Clear differences in dental calculus δ13C 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 δ13C values are large and consistent in direction, with no consistent offset between the δ13C 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 δ13C values compared to bone and enamel.