Light-Element Isotopes (H, C, N, and O) as Tracers of Human Diet: A Case Study on Fast Food Meals

Abstract

Tracking the production and

Evaluation of childhood nutrition by dietary survey and stable isotope analyses of hair and breath

“…However, its defined isotope ratios were slightly different when recalibrated using USGS40 and USGS41. Therefore, to compare the hair isotope values presented in this article with datasets previously published by our research group (for hair: Bowen et al, ; Thompson et al, ; Valenzuela et al, ; for food: Chesson, Ehleringer, & Cerling, ; Chesson et al, ) an offset of −0.3‰ for δ 13 C and +0.2‰ for δ 15 N values should be applied to previous publications. The sulfur isotope ratios of our laboratory reference materials, silver sulfide, and zinc sulfide were +17.9‰ and −31.9‰, respectively, when calibrated against the international standards IAEA‐S‐1, 2 and 3 (–0.30, +22.7 and −32.3‰, respectively).…”

Basic principles of stable isotope analysis in humanitarian forensic science

“…This can result in significant differences in the carbon isotopic composition of tissues of people living in different world regions-for example, Europe and Asia versus North America-due to the different levels of C3 plant derived carbon (e.g., sugar beet, rice, or wheat with a relatively low 13 C abundance) versus C4 plant derived carbon (e.g., sugar cane or corn with a relatively high 13 C abundance) in their respective diets [34,35]. In North America, there is a pervading influence of C4 carbon derived from sugar cane, but primarily corn; corn is used as animal feedstock [36,37] and corn syrup even serves as a cheap source of sweetener in processed foods, including beverages [38].…”

Stable isotopes in hair reveal dietary protein sources with links to socioeconomic status and health

“…Since corn utilizes the C 4 photosynthetic pathway ( 33 ), it imparts a higher carbon isotope value into the animal protein that is subsequently transferred into human tissues as proteins are consumed ( 34 , 35 ). Thus, a reliance on corn as a feed in animal feed today ( 36 – 38 ) affords the opportunity to use carbon isotopes as a tracer to quantify the importance of corn-fed, animal-derived protein in the protein consumption of an individual’s diet across an economic spectrum.…”