[13C4]-beta-hydroxybutyrate

13-c(4)-bhb is a stable isotope-labeled form of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) where all four carbon atoms are replaced with the stable isotope carbon-13. It is utilized as a metabolic tracer in clinical research to quantify ketone body flux, which serves as a pharmacodynamic marker for hepatic fatty acid oxidation. By administering this non-radioactive tracer and measuring its enrichment in the blood via mass spectrometry, researchers can distinguish between the rate of ketone production (ketogenesis) and the total concentration of ketones. This method provides a more sensitive measure of changes in lipid metabolism compared to static concentration measurements. In studies sponsored by Merck, it has been used to evaluate the effects of metabolic drug candidates on hepatic fat metabolism in healthy lean and obese subjects.

Other names

[13C4]-3-hydroxybutyrateD-beta-hydroxybutyrate-1,2,3,4-13C4sodium 3-hydroxybutyrate-1,2,3,4-13C4