Dynamic imaging of deuterated glucose in the stomach, portal vein, and liver using 3D deuterium MRSI at 7T

Motivation: Deuterium metabolic imaging (DMI) can be used to measure the kinetics of uptake and metabolism of deuterated glucose by specific tissues, which is relevant for investigating metabolic diseases and therapy effects. Goal(s): To explore the feasibility of DMI to measure glucose handling in the stomach, portal vein, and liver in healthy subjects. Approach: Four healthy subjects received an oral dose of [6,6'-2H2]glucose and underwent dynamic DMI for ~2 hours accompanied by blood sampling. Results: The kinetics of 2H-glucose signals in the stomach, portal vein, and liver and 2H-glucose concentrations in blood plasma were interrelated, but also showed large variations between subjects. Impact: DMI can trace the kinetics of 2H-glucose uptake and metabolism in the body, serving as a non-invasive, direct, 3D spatially resolved measurement tool to assess glucose handling in metabolic diseases.