Ref ID:	34323
Ref Type:	Journal Article
Authors:	Stott, A. W. Evershed, R. P. Jim, S. Jones, V. Rogers, J. M. Tuross, N. Ambrose, S.
Title:	Cholesterol as a new source of palaeodietary information: experimental approaches and archaeological applications
Date:	1999
Source:	Journal of Archaeological Science
Abstract:	Cholesterol and its diagenetic congeners have been detected in a wide range of human and animal bones dating to the Mesolithic period. Using isotope ratio monitoring-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (irm-GC/MS), it is possible to determine accurately compound specific d13C values of preserved cholesterol with high precision (+/- 0·4‰). The d13C value of cholesterol provides information complementary to that derived from collagen and apatite stable isotopes for use in palaeodietary studies. Potential advantages of using cholesterol are that: (1) the d13C value will be biased towards the original isotopic composition of the carbohydrates and fats in the diet, (2) its d13C value will retain isotopic integrity, i.e., will not be diagenetically altered, provided its carbon skeleton is characterized, and (3) that its relatively rapid rate of turnover provides a means of investigating carbon cycling on a shorter time scale than collagen. Laboratory animal feeding experiments have shown that cholesterol faithfully derives its isotopic signature from the diet and has a faster turnover rate than collagen. This paper reviews aspects of the methodologies employed in recording d13C values from cholesterol preserved in skeletal materials and presents new results obtained from modern and archaeological humans, and studies of experimental animals.
Date Created:	8/10/2001
Volume:	26
Number:	6
Page Start:	705
Page End:	716