title: High dietary intake of prebiotic inulin-type fructans in the prehistoric Chihuahuan Desert.
abstract: Archaeological evidence from dry cave deposits in the northern Chihuahuan Desert reveal intensive utilisation of desert plants that store prebiotic inulin-type fructans as the primary carbohydrate. In this semi-arid region limited rainfall and poor soil conditions prevented the adoption of agriculture and thus provides a unique glimpse into a pure hunter-forager economy spanning over 10 000 years. Ancient cooking features, stable carbon isotope analysis of human skeletons, and well-preserved coprolites and macrobotanical remains reveal a plant-based diet that included a dietary intake of about 135 g prebiotic inulin-type fructans per d by the average adult male hunter-forager. These data reveal that man is well adapted to daily intakes of prebiotics well above those currently consumed in the modern diet.
authors.affiliation: Paleobiotics Laboratory, 2401 Burgundy Suite 7, New Orleans, LA 70117, USA. jeff@paleobioticslab.com
authors.forename: Jeff D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Leach
authors.forename: Kristin D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Sobolik
mesh_terms: D027882:Agave / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D001106:Archaeology; D003889:Desert Climate; D004032:Diet / Q000266:history*; D005243:Feces; D005580:Fossils; D005630:Fructans; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D019668:Liliaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D019697:Onions / Q000737:chemistry; D010945:Plants, Edible; D056692:Prebiotics / Q000266:history*; D013781:Texas
chemical_list: D005630:Fructans; D056692:Prebiotics