Triglyceride oils labelled with .sup.13 C prepared by cultivation of microorganisms

摘要

Labelled triglyceride oils are produced for use in diagnostic breath tests. The process involves the cultivation of microorganisms capable of producing the oils in an appropriately controlled environment wherein the microorganisms are feed .sup.13 C or .sup.14 C labeled carbon substrates to induce the microorganisms to produce the labeled oils. The preferred labelled carbon substrate is a substrate containing .sup.13 C. The oil produced is preferrably enriched in oleic acid. The microorganisms can be induced to produce the oil by nitrogen depletion during cultivation.