PURPOSE: To determine the feasibility of MR spectroscopy in the living human liver, and to evaluate thecorresponding proton MR spectroscopic features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In fifteen normal volunteers with neitherprevious nor present liver disease the proton MR spectroscopic findings were reviewed. Twelve subjects were maleand three were female ; they were aged between 28 and 32 (mean, 30) years. MR spectroscopy involved the use of a1.5T GE Signa Horizon system with body coil (GE Medical System, Milwaukee, U.S.A). We used STEAM (STimulatedEcho-Aquisition Mode) with 3000/30 msec of TR/TE for signal acquisition, and the prone position withoutrespiratory interruption. Mean and standard deviation of the ratios of glutamate + glutamine/lipids,phosphomonoesters/ lipids, and glycogen + glucose/lipids were calculated from the area of their peaks. RESULTS:The proton MR spectroscopic findings of normal human livers showed four distinctive peaks, i.e. lipids, glutamateand glutamine complex, phosphomonoesters, and glycogen and glucose complex. The mean and standard deviation of theratios of glutamate + glutamine/lipids, phosphomonoesters/lipids, and glycogen + glucose/lipids were 0.02 +/- 0.01,0.01 +/- 0.01, and 0.04 +/- 0.03, respectively. CONCLUSION: In living normal human livers, MR spectroscopy can besuccessfully applied. When applied to a liver whose condition is pathologic, the findings can be used as astandard.