Natural 13C/12C ratio variations in human populations.
Baseline data on the naturally occurring 13C/12C ratios of human tissue samples from several modern human populations are presented. Isotope ratios were determined for endogenous tissue samples (brain, liver and lung) from 20 routine unselected autopsy cases of residents of Long Island, New York. Comparable data were obtained from tissue samples from Bergen, Norway and Lucerne, Switzerland. Average values of 13C ratios reported in units of delta13C(0/00) relative to the PDB carbonate standard were -20.6 +/- 1.0 for 49 tissue samples from Switzerland, -20.7 +/- 1.0 for 21 tissue samples from Bergen, Norway and -16.2 +/- 1.0 for 89 tissue samples from Long Island, New York. These variations are discussed in terms of the isotopic carbon inventory in the respective diets of the populations sampled and also in terms of their implications for biomedical investigation.
D001344:Autopsy; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis*; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D009518:New York; D009664:Norway; D013557:Switzerland
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002244:Carbon