Beyond faith: Biomolecular evidence for changing urban economies in multi‐faith medieval Portugal

During the Middle Ages, Portugal witnessed unprecedented socioeconomic and religious changes under transitioning religious political rule. The implications of changing ruling powers for urban food systems and individual diets in medieval Portugal is poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the dietary impact of the Islamic and Christian conquests.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Rich table but short life: Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis in Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe (1546-1601) and its possible consequences

The exhumation of Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe (1546–1601) was performed in 2010 to verify speculative views on the cause of his death. Previous analyses of skeletal and hair remains recovered from his grave refuted the presumption that he died from poisoning. These studies also outlined the possibility that he actually died from an acute illness, echoing the rather vague and inaccurate testimony of some historical records. We performed a detailed paleopathological analysis of Tycho Brahe’s skeletal remains, along with a reconstruction of his diet based on carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes analysis and an estimate of his physical status (relative body fat) based on medullar and cortical dimensions of the femoral shaft. The astronomer’s remains exhibit bone changes indicative of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). The study further allows us to classify him as obese (100% reliability according to our decision tree designed from Danish males), and points out his rich diet (high input of animal protein and/or marine resources) and high social status. Comorbidities of DISH and obesity are reviewed, and their influence on health status is discussed. We further consider some conditions associated with metabolic syndrome as possible causes of Tycho Brahe’s final symptoms (urinary retention, renal failure and coma), including diabetes, alcoholic ketoacidosis and benign prostatic hypertrophy. Although a definite and specific diagnosis cannot be established, our study points to today’s civilization diseases often associated with DISH and metabolic syndrome as the possible cause of death of Tycho Brahe

Chapter 2. Skeletal health in Medieval societies: insights from stable isotopes and dental histology

With social and economic systems determining the structure and function of human groups come health repercussions that affect our longevity and quality of life. Consequently, skeletal disorders in the modern world are becoming increasingly problematic as populations experience ageing-driven changes in bone metabolism. Coupled with often poor quality nutrition and largely sedentary lifestyles, skeletal adaptation in contemporary populations is facing more challenges than ever before. As biological anthropologists attempt to understand the interwoven biological and cultural relationships influencing the ways in which we grow and adapt to our environments, the medical realm tackles bone fragility and fracture risk at a patient and society level. Human lifestyle as a research theme appears to unite bio-anthropological and medical queries into bone health