“Technical Advances in Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Metabolic Research”

MRI scanners are frequently used to study human metabolic processes. This dissertation introduces advanced MR techniques to study type 2 diabetes. The developed techniques enable us to measure acetyl-carnitine, a substance that seems important to the regulation of the glucose and lipid metabolism. Direct application showed that patients with type 2 diabetes produce a less amount of this substance. Furthermore, the storage of fat from meals can now be directly monitored by a newly developed MR technique, allowing us to gain insight into the factors contributing to hepatic steatosis. 

Key words: MRI, type 2 diabetes, acetyl-carnitine