Aspartic acid racemization in dentin of the third molar for age estimation of the Chaoshan population in South China. (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Shisheng; Lv, Yanyi; Wang, Dian; Yu, Xiaojun
• Is Part Of: Forensic science international. Volume 266(2016)
• Page Start: 234
• Page End: 238
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: Racemization -- Age estimation -- Third molar -- Chaoshan population; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Forensic -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine légale -- Périodiques; Chimie légale -- Périodiques; Gerechtelijke geneeskunde; Gerechtelijke chemie; Gerechtelijke psychiatrie; Chemistry, Forensic; Medical jurisprudence; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.06.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0379-0738

Abstract

Highlights: AAR of third molar dentin can be used to accurate estimate age in Chaoshanese. Hot tea drinking did no effect the accuracy of age estimation base on it. There was no difference in AAR ratio of third molar dentin between sexes or jaws. Abstract: Aspartic acid racemization in teeth has been increasingly used to estimate chronological age with a considerably high accuracy in forensic practice. The Chaoshan population in South China is relatively isolated in geography, and has specific lifestyle and dietary inhibits. It is still unknown whether this method is suitable for this population. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between chronological age and thed /l aspartic acid ratio in dentin in the third molar tooth of the Chaoshan population. Fifty-eight non-carious third molar teeth (31 mandibles and 27 maxillae), from 58 living individuals of known age (24 males and 34 females), were retrieved. Dentin was extracted from these teeth. Thed - andl -aspartic acids in dentins were separated and detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Linear regression was performed between thed /l aspartic acid ratio of dentins and chronological age. Results showed that the correlation coefficient (r) was 0.969, and the mean absolute error (MAE) was 2.19 years, its standard deviation (SD) was ±1.53 years, indicating excellent correlation. There was no significant difference in racemization rates of dentin between sexes ( P = 0.113, F = 2.6), or between mandibles and maxillae ( P = 0.964, F = 0.000). Results indicate that the ratio of thed andl forms of aspartic acid of dentins, in the third molar, is closely correlated with chronological age, special lifestyle do no obviously affect the accuracy of the age estimations by aspartic acid racemization of the dentin in the third molar and that aspartic acid racemization in the third molar dentin can be used as an accurate method to estimate chronological age in the Chaoshan population in South China.