We examined dietaryintakesamong 69 peopleof threeethnic groups (Yao
Chinese,Zhung Chineseand Han Chinese) inthe autonomous country of Bama in
China where many elderly peoplehave a long lifespan in1998. Dietaryintake
was eyaluated using carbon and nitrogen isotoperatios of human hair(ai3C, 6
iSN)
standardized by standard gas. The distributions of 6
t3C inYao Chineseand Han
Chinesewere scattered from-21 to- 17%o,which were close to thatof C4 plants
such as corn and millet. The distributionof 6
i3C inZhung Chinesewas located
fromm25 to-22%o, which was near that of C3 plantssuch as rice,wheat and
potato.These values showed a much wider range when compared with 6
i3C in
Chinese livingin urban areas. On the other hand, 6i5N in each group was
distributedinthe area ranged from 8 to 11%o. The result of 6
i3C
was consistent
with dataobtained from a nutritional survey, but that of 6
iSN
was a littlehigher
than expected. The carbon and nitrogen isotoperatios of human hairamong three
ethnic groups showed characteristic distributions, although the relation between
these isotoperatios and longevityisuncertain.