Used as a stable isotope-labeled tracer in metabolic studies to track the pathway and metabolism of fructose in biological systems. Helps in understanding glucose and fructose utilization in diabetes, liver function, and metabolic disorders. Commonly employed in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS) research due to its ¹³C label, enabling precise detection and quantification of metabolic intermediates. Also utilized in clinical research to study insulin resistance and carbohydrate metabolism in humans without radiation exposure, as ¹³C is non-radioactive.