title: HS-SPME-GC-MS analysis of body odor to test the efficacy of foot deodorant formulations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Foot malodor is mostly due to short-chain fatty acids produced by bacterial metabolism of eccrine sweating. We aimed to develop a protocol for an objective (instrumental) efficacy evaluation of foot deodorant formulations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Head-space solid-phase microextractions of target fatty acids from the feet of six healthy volunteers were analyzed by GC-MS. A comparative analysis of the treated vs. the untreated foot was performed in each subject after washing the feet with a physiologic solution and incubating at 36 degrees C for 24-72 h in tryptic soy agar growth medium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acetic, butyric, isobutyric and isovaleric acids were identified as the main contributors to foot malodor in the majority of volunteers. Propionic, valeric and isocaproic acids were also detected in some subjects. Comparative analysis according to the protocol developed showed a statistically significant (P<0.01) reduction of target fatty acids ranging from -26.6% to -77.0%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The protocol developed is a convenient, sensitive and non-invasive method to test the efficacy of foot deodorant formulations in human volunteers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry A Mangini, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caroprese
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gabbanini
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beltramini
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lucchi
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Valgimigli
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D000328:Adult; D002087:Butyrates / Q000032:analysis; D020148:Butyric Acid / Q000032:analysis; D002138:Calibration; D003836:Deodorants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004643:Emollients / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D045782:Hemiterpenes; D006801:Humans; D058610:Isobutyrates; D008297:Male; D009812:Odorants / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010421:Pentanoic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013542:Sweat / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002087:Butyrates; D003836:Deodorants; D004643:Emollients; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D045782:Hemiterpenes; D058610:Isobutyrates; D010421:Pentanoic Acids; D020148:Butyric Acid; C008216:isovaleric acid; C020380:isobutyric acid; D019342:Acetic Acid