Chemical elements exist in nature as isotopes — atoms with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. In heavy water, ordinary hydrogen atoms are replaced by its heavier isotope, deuterium. Isotopes have virtually identical chemical properties, allowing them to be used as invisible tracers. This very approach — replacing ordinary compounds with labeled ones and tracking their transformations — forms the basis for deciphering most biochemical processes.
In the experiment with the guinea pig Khryun, which belongs to Associate Professor Yury Kostyukevich and is kept as a household pet, the scientist gave the animal heavy water to drink. The method relies on the fact that deuterium, once in the body, participates in biochemical reactions alongside ordinary hydrogen and becomes incorporated into the carbon-hydrogen bonds of organic compounds. Khryun was under constant observation by the scientist, who monitored his diet and physical activity and conducted analyses.
To track how the isotopic labels became incorporated into various biological molecules, the researcher used high-performance liquid chromatography combined with high-resolution mass spectrometry. Mass spectrometry enables precise determination of the mass of all molecules present in a sample and distinguishes isotopes by their weight, making this method indispensable for such studies. The rate at which the label appears in a given compound reflects the intensity of its synthesis 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 researcher determined how quickly the isotopically 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.
