Volatile sulphur compounds in morning breath of human volunteers.
OBJECTIVE
morning breath contains elevated concentrations of volatile sulphur components (VSCs). Therefore, morning breath is recognised as a surrogate target for interventions on breath quality. Nevertheless, factors influencing morning breath are poorly understood. Our aim was to evaluate concentrations of VSC at the time of awakening.


METHODS
a procedure was developed to collect breath samples at home. Intra- and inter-person variations were determined in two small studies based on measurements of hydrogen sulphide, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulphide in healthy volunteers.


RESULTS
highest levels of VSC were found directly after waking up, followed by a significant decline afterward. Considerable day-to-day variation was found, but could not be linked to dietary intake. A significantly higher concentration of H(2)S and CH(3)SH was observed in the group of female subjects compared to males.


CONCLUSIONS
when morning breath is used as a target for interventions, breath collected at the time of or shortly after waking up is preferred over breath collected later during the morning. Gender plays an important role in VSC levels, and should be taken into account.
Snel
Johannes
J
Health Division, NIZO Food Research, P.O. Box 20, 6710 BA Ede, The Netherlands. Hans.Snel@nizo.nl
Burgering
Maurits
M
Smit
Bart
B
Noordman
Wouter
W
Tangerman
Albert
A
Winkel
Edwin G
EG
Kleerebezem
Michiel
M
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D003069:Coffee; D004435:Eating; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006209:Halitosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D013440:Sulfides / Q000032:analysis; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis
D003069:Coffee; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D013440:Sulfides; D013457:Sulfur Compounds; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; C005231:methylmercaptan; C004784:dimethyl sulfide; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide