The term "metabolic profile" was introduced by Horning, et al. in 1971 after they demonstrated that gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) could be used to measure compounds present in human urine and tissue extracts.
O termo "perfil metabólico" foi introducido por Horning en 1971 despois de que o seu equipo demostrou que a GC-MS (cromatografía gasosa acoplada a espectrometría de masas) podería ser usada para medir compostos presentes na urina e en extractos de tecido.