Potential Influence of Diet on Bomb-Pulse Dating of Human Plaque Samples

Summary, in English

The radiocarbon concentration of different atherosclerotic plaque fragments obtained from 20 patients in Portugal, operated in 2000-2001, has been measured in order to define the year of plaque formation. A difference of 1.8-15 yr was observed, with the mean and median both 9 yr, between the bomb-pulse date estimated with the CALIBomb software and the operation date. Stable isotope (delta C-13 and delta N-15) analysis was also performed and provides insight to the diet of the subjects. The wide range of measured stable isotope values could indicate that the subjects' diet varied, including an abundance of marine foodstuffs. It could also mean a different isotope fractionation process for the different plaque fragments (cap, core, interface to media) and a possible difference in tissues in which the various fragments are formed. Analysis of delta C-13 and delta N-15 values of each patient separately revealed subjects considered more influenced by marine foodstuffs consumption.