title: Effects of dietary nutrients on volatile breath metabolites.
abstract: Breath analysis is becoming increasingly established as a means of assessing metabolic, biochemical and physiological function in health and disease. The methods available for these analyses exploit a variety of complex physicochemical principles, but are becoming more easily utilised in the clinical setting. Whilst some of the factors accounting for the biological variation in breath metabolite concentrations have been clarified, there has been relatively little work on the dietary factors that may influence them. In applying breath analysis to the clinical setting, it will be important to consider how these factors may affect the interpretation of endogenous breath composition. Diet may have complex effects on the generation of breath compounds. These effects may either be due to a direct impact on metabolism, or because they alter the gastrointestinal flora. Bacteria are a major source of compounds in breath, and their generation of H2, hydrogen cyanide, aldehydes and alkanes may be an indicator of the health of their host.
authors.affiliation: Guy Hilton Research Centre, Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, University of Keele , Thornburrow Drive, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 7QB , UK.
authors.forename: Olawunmi A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Ajibola
authors.affiliation: Guy Hilton Research Centre, Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, University of Keele , Thornburrow Drive, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 7QB , UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Guy Hilton Research Centre, Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, University of Keele , Thornburrow Drive, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 7QB , UK ; J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic , Dolejskova 3, 182 23, Prague 8 , Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Patrik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spaněl
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Education, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Mayfield House , University of Brighton , Brighton BN1 9PH , UK.
authors.forename: Gordon A A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Ferns
keywords: Breath analysis; Gut flora; Macronutrients; Micronutrients; PTR, proton transfer reaction; SIFT, selected ion flow tube; Selected ion flow tube-MS; VOC, volatile organic compounds; ppbv, parts per billion by volume