Assessing geographic controls of hair isotopic variability in human populations: A case-study in Canada.

ABSTRACT: Studying the isotope variability in fast-growing human tissues (e.g., hair, nails) is a powerful tool to investigate human nutrition. However, interpreting the controls of this isotopic variability at the population scale is often challenging as multiple factors can superimpose on the isotopic signals of a current population. Here, we analyse carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur isotopes in hair from 590 Canadian resident volunteers along with demographics, dietary and geographic information about each participant. We use a series of machine-learning regressions to demonstrate that the isotopic values in Canadian residents' hair are not only influenced by dietary choices but by geographic controls. First, we show that isotopic values in Canadian residents' hair have a limited range of variability

SUBMITTER: Bataille CP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7416927 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature