title: Breathprints of childhood obesity: changes in volatile organic compounds in obese children compared with lean controls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate changes in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath in overweight/obese children compared with their lean counterparts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single exhaled breath was collected and analyzed per protocol using selective ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty overweight/obese children and 55 lean controls were included. Compared with the lean group, the obese group was significantly older (14.1 ± 2.8 vs. 12.1 ± 3.0 years), taller (164.8 ± 10.9 vs. 153.3 ± 17.1 cm) and more likely to be Caucasian (60% vs. 35.2%); P < 0.05 for all. A comparison of the SIFT-MS results of the obese group with the lean group revealed differences in concentration of more than 50 compounds. A panel of four VOCs can identify the presence of overweight/obesity with excellent accuracy. Further analysis revealed that breath isoprene, 1-decene, 1-octene, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide were significantly higher in the obese group compared with the lean group (P value < 0.01 for all).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obese children have a unique pattern of exhaled VOCs. Changes in VOCs observed in this study may help to gain insight into pathophysiological processes and pathways leading to the development of childhood obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Center for Cardiovascular Diagnostics and Prevention, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alkhouri
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eng
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cikach
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brindle
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rome
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hanouneh
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grove
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hazen
authors.forename: Raed A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dweik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D045853:Exhalation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013851:Thinness / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014481:United States; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Biomarker; breath testing; insulin resistance; oxidative stress