Using LC-IRMS, the authors measured the isotope ratios of 14 amino acids in hair proteins independently and leucine/isoleucine as a co-eluting pair, which yieded 15 variables for classification. Multivariate analysis confirmed that the essential amino acids and non-essential amino acids were mostly independent variables in the classification rules, thereby enabling the separation of dietary factors of isotope intake from intrinsic or phenotypic factors of isotope fractionation. Multivariate analysis revealed at least two potential sources of non-dietary factors influencing the carbon isotope ratio values of the amino acids in human hair: body mass index (BMI) and age. These results provide evidence that compound-specific isotope ratio analysis has the potential to go beyond region-of-origin or geospatial movements of individualsobtainable through bulk isotope measurementsto the provision of physical and characteristic traits about the individuals, such as age and BMI. Further development and refinement, for example to genetic, metabolic, disease and hormonal factors could ultimately be of great assistance in forensic and clinical casework. (Publisher abstract modified)
Downloads
Similar Publications
- Optimizing the Analysis of DNA from Burned Bone Using Ancient DNA Techniques
- Utilizing Derivatizing Agents for the Differentiation of Cannabinoid isomers in Complex Food, Beverage and Personal-care Product Matrices by Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometry
- GIS Application for Building a Nationally Representative Forensic Taphonomy Database