The fat from frozen mammals reveals sources of essential fatty acids suitable for Palaeolithic and Neolithic humans

PLoS One. 2014 Jan 8;9(1):e84480. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084480. eCollection 2014.

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.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / chemistry*
  • Adipose Tissue / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Diet / history*
  • Dietary Fats / metabolism*
  • Energy Intake
  • Fatty Acids, Essential / chemistry
  • Fatty Acids, Essential / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Freezing*
  • Hibernation
  • History, Ancient
  • Horses / metabolism
  • Horses / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mammals / anatomy & histology
  • Mammals / metabolism*
  • Mammoths / metabolism
  • Mammoths / physiology
  • Siberia

Substances

  • Dietary Fats
  • Fatty Acids, Essential

Grants and funding

The authors acknowledge the funding received to perform this work by the “Plan Propio de Investigación” of the University of Almería, made to the Research Group “Chemistry of Biomolecules and Food Processing (FQM-010)”. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.