[13C]-Taurocholic acid

[13C]-Taurocholic acid is a compound that is widely used in medical research and clinical applications. This compound is an isotopically labeled derivative of taurocholic acid, which is a bile acid that is produced in the liver and secreted into the small intestine to aid in the digestion and absorption of fats. [13C]-Taurocholic acid is synthesized by introducing a stable isotope of carbon (carbon-13) into the taurocholic acid molecule, which allows it to be detected and measured using specialized analytical techniques. The primary use of [13C]-Taurocholic acid is in the area of diagnostic medicine. It is commonly used in breath tests that are used to diagnose various gastrointestinal disorders, such as bacterial overgrowth and Helicobacter pylori infections. In these tests, patients ingest a small amount of [13C]-Taurocholic acid, and then their breath is analyzed for the presence of carbon-13. The amount of carbon-13 detected is indicative of the degree of bacterial overgrowth or H. pylori infection in the patient's digestive system. From a chemical standpoint, [13C]-Taurocholic acid is a conjugated bile acid that contains a taurocholic acid moiety attached to a glycine amino acid via an amide bond. The stable isotope of carbon is incorporated into the taurocholic acid portion of the molecule, which is a steroid-like structure. This labeling does not affect the biological activity or function of the compound, but rather allows it to be detected and measured more accurately.