Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 29, 2026

Stable Isotopic Profiling of Intermediary Metabolic Flux in Developing and Adult Stage Caenorhabditis elegans
Published on: February 27, 2011
Uses of stable isotopes in the assessment of nutrient status and metabolism
1Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisc., USA.
Abstract:
Stable isotopes are nonradioactive and can be safely administered to humans; yet, because of the isotopic difference, can be distinguished from the unlabeled moiety and thus trace the nutrient uptake and elimination. Stable isotope applications include measurement of nutrient absorption, determination of nutrient body stores, tracing routes of nutrient metabolism, measuring nutrient fluxes through specific pathways, and measuring nutrient elimination. The ability to assess the dynamics of nutrient metabolism in vivo has been vital in the study of nutrient requirements, nutrient metabolism, mechanisms of nutrient homeostasis, and nutrient toxicity. Stable isotopes provide a window into human metabolism that is particularly valuable to the quantitative study of human nutrition.
Related Concept Videos
Isotopes and Radioisotopes
An isotope containing more...
Mass Spectrometry: Isotope Effect
Imaging Studies II: Positron Emission Tomography and Scintigraphy
Fundamental Principles of PET
Applications Of NMR In Biology
The...
Radioactive Decay and Radiometric Dating
