Isotopic analysis of formula milk reveals potential challenges in geolocating bottle-fed babies

Lisette M Kootker; Saskia T M Ammer; Gareth R Davies; Christine Lehn

doi:10.1038/s41598-024-54173-y

Isotopic analysis of formula milk reveals potential challenges in geolocating bottle-fed babies

Lisette M Kootker
, Saskia T M Ammer
, Gareth R Davies
, Christine Lehn

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

In forensic investigations involving the identification of unknown deceased individuals, isotope analysis can provide valuable provenance information. This is especially pertinent when primary identifiers (i.e., DNA, dactyloscopy, etc.) fail to yield matches. The isotopic composition of human tissues is linked to that of the food consumed, potentially allowing the identification of regions of origin. However, the isotopic composition of deceased newborns and infants fed with milk formula may be influenced by that of the prepared milk. The findings contribute towards the possibility to isotopically identify bottle-fed infants. More importantly, the data convincingly show that the Sr isotope composition of the prepared milk is determined by that of the formula and not the (local) tap water, thereby limiting the potential of Sr isotope analysis for determining the geological or geographical origin in formula-fed babies in medico-legal cases.

Original language	English
Article number	3600
Pages (from-to)	1-9
Number of pages	9
Journal	Scientific Reports
Volume	14
Early online date	13 Feb 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54173-y
Publication status	Published - 2024

Bibliographical note

Funding

The authors thank Andreas Rossmann (Isolab Gmbh, Laboratory for Stable Isotope Analytics, Schweitenkirchen) for providing the C-N-S isotope data, and Dr. Kirsten van Zuilen (former Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) for performing the ICP-MS measurements. Dr. Graham Hagen-Peter (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) is thanked for performing the isotope mixing calculations. The authors would like to express their gratitude to two anonymous reviewers and Dr. Graham Hagen-Peter for their insightful comments and valuable suggestions, which enhanced the quality of this paper.

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title = "Isotopic analysis of formula milk reveals potential challenges in geolocating bottle-fed babies",

abstract = "In forensic investigations involving the identification of unknown deceased individuals, isotope analysis can provide valuable provenance information. This is especially pertinent when primary identifiers (i.e., DNA, dactyloscopy, etc.) fail to yield matches. The isotopic composition of human tissues is linked to that of the food consumed, potentially allowing the identification of regions of origin. However, the isotopic composition of deceased newborns and infants fed with milk formula may be influenced by that of the prepared milk. The findings contribute towards the possibility to isotopically identify bottle-fed infants. More importantly, the data convincingly show that the Sr isotope composition of the prepared milk is determined by that of the formula and not the (local) tap water, thereby limiting the potential of Sr isotope analysis for determining the geological or geographical origin in formula-fed babies in medico-legal cases.",

author = "Kootker, \{Lisette M\} and Ammer, \{Saskia T M\} and Davies, \{Gareth R\} and Christine Lehn",

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AU - Davies, Gareth R

AU - Lehn, Christine

PY - 2024

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N2 - In forensic investigations involving the identification of unknown deceased individuals, isotope analysis can provide valuable provenance information. This is especially pertinent when primary identifiers (i.e., DNA, dactyloscopy, etc.) fail to yield matches. The isotopic composition of human tissues is linked to that of the food consumed, potentially allowing the identification of regions of origin. However, the isotopic composition of deceased newborns and infants fed with milk formula may be influenced by that of the prepared milk. The findings contribute towards the possibility to isotopically identify bottle-fed infants. More importantly, the data convincingly show that the Sr isotope composition of the prepared milk is determined by that of the formula and not the (local) tap water, thereby limiting the potential of Sr isotope analysis for determining the geological or geographical origin in formula-fed babies in medico-legal cases.

AB - In forensic investigations involving the identification of unknown deceased individuals, isotope analysis can provide valuable provenance information. This is especially pertinent when primary identifiers (i.e., DNA, dactyloscopy, etc.) fail to yield matches. The isotopic composition of human tissues is linked to that of the food consumed, potentially allowing the identification of regions of origin. However, the isotopic composition of deceased newborns and infants fed with milk formula may be influenced by that of the prepared milk. The findings contribute towards the possibility to isotopically identify bottle-fed infants. More importantly, the data convincingly show that the Sr isotope composition of the prepared milk is determined by that of the formula and not the (local) tap water, thereby limiting the potential of Sr isotope analysis for determining the geological or geographical origin in formula-fed babies in medico-legal cases.

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ER -

Isotopic analysis of formula milk reveals potential challenges in geolocating bottle-fed babies

Abstract

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