Changes in metabolic state of the liver after intravenous fructose (250 mg/kg) load were evaluated by P-31 MR spectroscopy. Study was performed in eight healthy volunteers and six patients with liver cirrhosis. In the spectra of the cirrhotic livers the fructose load caused no significant increase in PME peak, which suggested that fructose metabolism of the cirrhotic livers had impediments before the fructose-1-phosphate stage. Also shown in the spectra of the cirrhotic livers was the significant drop of Pi, PDE, and ATP peaks. This might reflect the low concentration of Pi, PDE and ATP in the cirrhotic livers.