You Are Not What You Eat During Stress: An Isotopic Evaluation of Human Hair From Belleville, Ontario

This study analyzed carbon and nitrogen isotope values in human hair from early settlers in Belleville, Ontario, to assess health status before death. By examining hair from 10 individuals, it was found that elevated δ¹⁵N values, which increased by more than 1‰, were associated with pathological conditions like chronic illness or injury, while a decrease by 1‰ was noted in possibly pregnant individuals. In contrast, δ¹³C values remained stable. The findings suggested that δ¹⁵N values could serve as indicators of physiological stress, beyond their traditional use in dietary studies.