Spatially-Resolved Ca Isotopic and Trace Element Variations in Human Deciduous Teeth Record Diet and Physiological Change

Dental enamel represents an important mineralized archive of an individual's early life. Previously, isotopic (Ca) or trace element ratios (Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca) have been used to reveal dietary and weaning histories, although few studies have utilized both proxies to evaluate the respective results. Here we report histologically-defined, spatially-resolved Ca-isotope (laser-cut & TIMS) and trace element ratio (Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca; LA-ICPMS) profiles along the enamel-dentine-junction in three deciduous dental crowns of three early twentieth century Italian infants (Modern-22, 27, 29). Modern-27 and Modern-29 display overall similar patterns of Ca-isotope variation and reflect an overall increase of >1.0 parts per thousand in delta Ca-44/40 across and after birth. Whilst the Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca signals of Modern-27 suggest a mixed breast-formula feeding, the two elemental proxies in Modern-29 hint at nearly exclusive breastfeeding until similar to 4 months, followed by introduction of formula. A similar to 0.5 parts per thousand delta Ca-44/40 decrease across and after birth together with Sr/Ca ratios in Modern-22 suggest a dominant breastfeeding history for the first similar to 5-8 months. Enamel Ca-isotope data alone are not sufficient to distinguish between breastfed or formula-fed infants. In addition, Ca-isotope profiles in deciduous enamel suggest a connection between prominent physiological stress like birth and negative Ca-isotope excursions, underlining the physiological overprint of Ca-isotope signatures.

Automated summary

Dental enamel provides valuable information about an individual's early life, and isotopic and trace element ratios have been used to study dietary and weaning histories. This study analyzed the enamel of three Italian infants from the early twentieth century, and found that both Ca-isotopes and trace element ratios can provide insights into breastfeeding and formula feeding patterns. However, Ca-isotope data alone are not sufficient to distinguish between breastfed or formula-fed infants.