🐹 A Skoltech scientist have raised the world’s only isotope-labeled guinea pig. The research results were published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. This approach can be useful for studying human metabolism, including the development of personalized medicine methods. For 156 days, the guinea pig named Khryun, who belongs to Associate Professor Yury Kostyukevich from Skoltech’s Biomed Technologies Center, was given only heavy water to drink. Deuterium — the natural isotope of hydrogen — accumulates in the chemical bonds of organic compounds and serves as a tracer for tracking their formation and breakdown. Isotopes have virtually identical chemical properties, making them ideal invisible tracers. Khryun was kept at home under constant observation — the scientist monitored his diet, physical activity, and conducted analyses. To track the isotopic labels, the researcher used high-resolution mass spectrometry. This method allows precise determination of molecular mass and distinguishes isotopes by their weight. The rate at which the label appears reflects the intensity of synthesis of a compound in the body. The study determined the timeframes over which deuterium content in various substances reached steady-state levels. The final isotope content in each compound indicates to what extent it is synthesized by the body itself versus derived from food. Oat shoots grown on heavy water were also produced. After Khryun ate them, the scientist determined how quickly the labeled substances from the oats became incorporated into the animal’s own biological molecules. “Throughout the experiment, we carefully monitored Khryun’s health and ensured its well-being. Our study established a methodological framework for using isotopically labeled food to investigate individual metabolic characteristics, opening up enormous possibilities for metabolic control. We have already refined the technology for producing isotopically labeled microgreens and plan to begin human volunteer studies in the near future. We are confident that soon we’ll learn to fine-tune human diets to maintain health, promote weight loss, and ensure overall well-being,” said Yury Kostyukevich, the study’s lead researcher and Associate Professor at Skoltech’s Biomed Technologies Center.