Used in metabolic research to study the urea cycle, particularly in tracing nitrogen and carbon pathways due to its deuterated form. Enables precise analysis in mass spectrometry and NMR studies, helping track metabolic flux in liver function and amino acid metabolism. Also applied in stable isotope labeling experiments to investigate protein synthesis and turnover. Its deuterium-labeled structure makes it valuable for pharmacokinetic and dynamic studies of ornithine-related pathways, including those involved in ammonia detoxification and arginine production.