Assessment of glucose turnover in normal man with the use of a non-radioactive isotopically labelled preparation, [6,6-2H]glucose, as tracer.

1. Glucose kinetics were assessed in seven normal adult male subjects by an intravenous bolus technique with the use of a non-radioactive isotopically labelled preparation, [6,6-2H]glucose, as tracer. Tracer enrichment in plasma was assessed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. For comparison five subjects also received a simultaneous intravenous bolus of [6-3H]glucose and kinetics were assessed by conventional means. 2. Administration of [6,6-2H]glucose did not alter circulating glucose or insulin concentrations. 3. Glucose turnover, assessed by the use of [6,6-2H]glucose, was 11.4 (+/- 0.9) micromol min-1 kg-1 and 11.6 (+/- 0.5) micromol min-1 kg-1 with rate of glucose was 2.3 (+/- 0.3) ml min-1 kg-1 with both isotopically labelled tracers. Estimates of mean residence time, glucose pool and glucose space were also similar by each technique. 4. [6,6-2H]Glucose is therefore an effective tracer and allows investigation of glucose kinetics without administration of a radioactive label.