Exploring Early Childhood Diet, Stress, Trophic Position and Dietary Protein Quality Using Amino Acid Nitrogen Isotope Compositions of Fingernail Keratin.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Evaluate the effectiveness of compound-specific nitrogen isotope analysis of amino acids (CSIA-AA) in reconstructing early childhood diets and detecting episodes of stress. Examine (1) proline's potential for identifying breastfeeding and weaning; (2) the influence of physiological and pathological stress on AA δ¹⁵N; (3) the reliability of trophic position (TP) estimates from phenylalanine (Phe) and glutamate (Glx) δ¹⁵N during dietary transitions; and (4) mother-infant trophic enrichment factors (TEF_Glx-Phe) as indicators of infant dietary protein quality.

Materials and methods

Three mother-infant dyads provided fingernail clippings (n = 43) for CSIA-AA analysis pre- and post-birth, alongside dietary and health surveys.

Results<

SUBMITTER: Salahuddin H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12505251 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature