Used as a stable isotope-labeled tracer in metabolic studies to track glucose metabolism pathways in cells and organisms. Enables precise measurement of glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and the pentose phosphate pathway using techniques like mass spectrometry or NMR. Commonly employed in research on diabetes, cancer metabolism, and insulin resistance due to its ability to trace metabolic flux without radioactivity. Also used in clinical diagnostics and nutritional studies to assess carbohydrate utilization and energy metabolism in vivo.