title: The PUFA-enriched fatty acid profiles of some frozen bison from the early Holocene found in the Siberian permafrost.
abstract: Knowledge concerning the availability of n-3 fatty acids for humans in prehistoric times is highly relevant in order to draw useful conclusions on the healthy dietary habits for present-day humans. To this end, we have analysed fat from several frozen bison found in the permafrost of Siberia (Russia). A total of 3 bison were included in this study, all them very close to the early Holocene (8,000; 8,200; and 9,300 years BP). All samples were analysed by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GLC-MS) and GLC flame-ionization detection (GLC-FID). Fat samples from two bison showed two well-differenced areas, i.e. brown and white, the latter being saturated fatty acid enriched, corresponding to an intermediate stage of adipocere formation, while the brown ones yielded α-linolenic acid in higher percentages than found in present-day bison. As demonstrated in this work, the subcutaneous fat of bison consumed by Mesolithic hunters contained amounts of n-3 fatty acids in higher quantities than those found in current bison; thus, the subcutaneous fat of bison could have contributed to meet today's recommended daily intake of essential fatty acids for good health in the Mesolithic to a greater extent than previously thought.
authors.affiliation: Food Technology Division, CeiA3, University of Almería, Almería, Spain.
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Guil-Guerrero
authors.affiliation: Organic Chemistry Division, CeiA3, University of Almería, Almería, Spain.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-García
authors.affiliation: Ice Age Museum, All Russia Exhibition Centre 71, 129223 Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kirillova
authors.affiliation: Ice Age Museum, All Russia Exhibition Centre 71, 129223 Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Fedor
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shidlovskiy
authors.affiliation: Food Technology Division, CeiA3, University of Almería, Almería, Spain.
authors.forename: Rebeca P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Ramos-Bueno
authors.affiliation: Institute of applied ecology of the North, North-eastern federal University, Yakutsk, Russia.
authors.forename: Grigoryi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Savvinov
authors.affiliation: Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Alexei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tikhonov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016164:Bison / Q000378:metabolism*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005580:Fossils
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3