title: The fat from frozen mammals reveals sources of essential fatty acids suitable for Palaeolithic and Neolithic humans.
abstract: The elucidation of the sources of n-3 fatty acids available for the humans in the Upper Palaeolithic and Neolithic is highly relevant in order to ascertain the availability of such nutrients in that time frame as well as to draw useful conclusions about healthy dietary habits for present-day humans. To this end, we have analysed fat from several frozen mammals found in the permafrost of Siberia (Russia). A total of 6 specimens were included in this study: 2 mammoths, i.e. baby female calf called "Lyuba" and a juvenile female called "Yuka", both specimens approximately from the same time, i.e. Karginian Interstadial (41,000 and 34,000 years BP); two adult horses from the middle Holocene (4,600 and 4,400 years BP); and two bison very close to the Early Holocene (8,200 and 9,300 years BP). All samples were analysed by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GLC-MS) and GLC-flame ionization detector (GLC-FID). As demonstrated in this work, the fat of single-stomached mammals often consumed by Palaeolithic/Neolithic hunters contained suitable amounts of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids, possibly in quantities sufficient to meet the today's recommended daily intake for good health. Moreover, the results also suggest that mammoths and horses at that time were hibernators.
authors.affiliation: Food Technology Division, CeiA3, University of Almería, Almería, Spain.
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Guil-Guerrero
authors.affiliation: Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Alexei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tikhonov
authors.affiliation: Organic Chemistry Division, CeiA3, University of Almería, Almería, Spain.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-García
authors.affiliation: Department of Mammoth Faunal Studies, Sakha (Yakutia) Republic Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Protopopov
authors.affiliation: Yakutsk Scientific Research Institute of Applied Ecology of the North, North-Eastern Federal University, Yakutsk, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Semyon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grigoriev
authors.affiliation: Food Technology Division, CeiA3, University of Almería, Almería, Spain.
authors.forename: Rebeca P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Ramos-Bueno
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet / Q000266:history*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005615:Freezing; D006605:Hibernation; D049690:History, Ancient; D006736:Horses / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D056665:Mammoths / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D012800:Siberia
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential