12 The use of isotope turnover techniques in the study of carbohydrate metabolism in man

Abstract

It now appears that the bulk of methodological, analytical and interpretative problems associated with the use of isotope turnover techniques for the study of carbohydrate metabolism in man are resolved. As illustrated by a number of examples of the use of these techniques for the assessment of carbohydrate metabolism they seem, to the author, to have been more critically useful in the resolution of questions of (a) mechanism of hormone and drug action and (b) of interactions between metabolites, than they have been in defining pathological states, although the volume of information that is being accumulated is sure to prove useful for future research. Although it is this author's opinion that the employment of the radioactive isotopes at the low levels allowed by todays technology does not impose an unreasonable risk to the research subject, the promise of increased sensitivity for the detection of stable isotopes and the promise of their increased availability in a wide variety of compounds are factors that are sure to provide impetus for the wider use of these most valuable techniques in medical research.