Carbohydrates, and glucose specifically, play a key role in the study of metabolic research. Glucose is involved, either directly or via a downstream metabolite, in numerous biochemical pathways. Stable isotope labeled glucose has therefore been a popular and reliable substrate used in an array of applications. This research includes the study of diseases such as diabetes
1 and cancer,
2 the effect of energy expenditure on glucose production
3 and the metabolic effects of pharmaceuticals such as antipsychotic drugs.
4 Due to the variety of metabolic cycles fed by glucose and the numerous metabolites biosynthesized from glucose, many labeled glucose products are available.
While glucose is the most heavily researched carbohydrate, metabolic research using carbohydrates is not limited to glucose. Various studies have been undertaken using labeled carbohydrates such as fructose and ribose. Recent studies have included research into the effects of carbohydrates on energy metabolism,
5 the study of carbohydrate metabolism with regards to an increased in high fructose corn syrup consumption,
6 and study into the biosynthesis of certain flavor components by yeast.
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2. Lane, A.N.; Fan, T.;W.-M.; higashi, R.M.; Tan, J.; Bousamra, M.; Miller, D.M.; Exp.Mol.Pathol. 2009, 86, 165.
3. Smith, T.J.; Schwartz, J.-M.; Montain, S.J.; Rood, J.; Pikosky, M.A.; Castaneda-Sceppa, C.; Glickman, E.; Young, A.J.; Nutr. Metab. 2011, 8:26..
4. Vidarsdottir, S.; de Leeuw van Weenen, J.E.; Frölich, M.; Roelfsema, F.; Romijn, J.A.; Pijl, H.; J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 2010 95, 118.
5. Bruce, S.J.; Breton, I.; Decombaz, J.; Boesch, C.; Scheurer, E.; Montoliu, I.; Rezzi, S.; Kochhar, S.; Guy, P.A.; J. Chrom. B 2010, 878, 3015.
6. Wahjudi, P.N.; Patterson,M.E.; Lim,S.; Yee, J.K.; Mao, C.S.; Lee, W.-N. P.; Clin.Biochem. 2010, 43, 198.
7. Ohata, M.; Kohama, K.; Morimitsu, Y.; Kubota, K.; Sugawara, E.; Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 2007, 71, 407.
Technical Article
An Approach to Quantifying the Conversion of Carbohydrate to Fat in Humans (J.-M.Schwarz, Ph.D. and N.Bergeron, Ph.D.)
