Estudio de compuestos orgánicos volátiles en aire exhalado en una población clínicamente sana: efecto del tabaquismo / Volatile Organic Compounds in Exhaled Breath in a Healthy Population: Effect of Tobacco Smoking

Introducción: El humo del tabaco es una fuente de radicales libres y especies reactivas de oxígeno y de nitrógeno, principales causantes de estrés oxidativo. El análisis de compuestos orgánicos volátiles (VOC) en aire exhalado es un método indirecto de medir el nivel de estrés oxidativo que se produce en las vías aéreas. El objetivo de este trabajo es conocer la influencia del tabaco en la producción de VOC en una población clínicamente sana. Métodos: Se analizó el aire exhalado de 89 voluntarios sanos, clasificados en 3 grupos: no fumadores, exfumadores y fumadores activos. La muestra de aire exhalado se recogió mediante Bio-VOC®, y se traspasó a tubos de desorción. La técnica analítica utilizada fue: desorción térmica, cromatografía de gases y espectrometría de masas. Los VOC analizados fueron hexanal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, ácido propanoico y ácido nonanoico, cuya identificación se realizó mediante su tiempo de retención y espectro de masas referenciado en la biblioteca NIST 08, confirmándolo mediante el uso de estándares cromatográficos. Resultados: La mayoría de los VOC analizados se encuentran a concentraciones muy bajas. Únicamente el nonanal muestra diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre los grupos de estudio, depende exclusivamente del hábito de fumar, y es independiente de la cantidad de tabaco consumido, edad y género. Conclusiones: El hallazgo de nonanal se asocia al consumo de tabaco, actual o previo. Al ser un producto secundario de la destrucción de la membrana celular, su hallazgo probablemente muestra daño celular en personas fumadoras y permanece una vez cesado el hábito (AU)

Introduction: Tobacco smoke is a source of free radicals and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, which are the main causes of oxidative stress. The analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in exhaled breath is an indirect method of measuring the level of oxidative stress that occurs in the airways caused by tobacco consumption. The aim of this study was to determine whether smoking influences the production of VOC, in a clinically healthy population. Methods: Exhaled breath from 89 healthy volunteers, divided into three groups (non-smokers, ex-smokers and smokers), was analyzed. Samples were collected using Bio-VOC® devices and transferred to universal desorption tubes. Chemical compounds were analyzed by thermal desorption, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. We analyzed hexanal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, nonanoic acid and propanoic acid, and all were identified by retention time and mass spectra referenced in the NIST 08 mass spectral library; confirmation was carried out using reference standards of the pure chemical compound. Results: These VOC were found in very low concentrations. Only nonanal showed significant quantitative and qualitative statistical differences among the study groups. Nonanal concentration is dependent on smoking, but is independent of the amount of tobacco consumed, age and gender. Conclusions: Nonanal in exhaled breath is associated with tobacco consumption, current or previous. Nonanal is a sub-product of the destruction of the cell membrane, and its finding may be indicative of cell damage in smokers. This result appears in many farmers who smoke (AU)

Volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath in a healthy population: effect of tobacco smoking.

INTRODUCTION: Tobacco smoke is a source of free radicals and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, which are the main causes of oxidative stress. The analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in exhaled breath is an indirect method of measuring the level of oxidative stress that occurs in the airways caused by tobacco consumption. The aim of this study was to determine whether smoking influences the production of VOC, in a clinically healthy population. METHODS: Exhaled breath from 89 healthy volunteers, divided into three groups (non-smokers, ex-smokers and smokers) was analysed. Samples were collected using Bio-VOC® devices and transferred to universal desorption tubes. Chemical compounds were analysed by thermal desorption, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. We analysed hexanal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, nonanoic acid and propanoic acid, all identified by retention time and mass spectra referenced in the NIST 08 mass spectral library; confirmation was carried out using reference standards of the pure chemical compound. RESULTS: These VOC were found in very low concentrations. Only nonanal showed significant quantitative and qualitative statistical differences among the study groups. Nonanal concentration is dependent on smoking, but is independent of the amount of tobacco consumed, age and gender. CONCLUSIONS: Nonanal in exhaled breath is associated with tobacco consumption, current or previous. Nonanal is a sub-product of the destruction of the cell membrane, and its finding may be indicative of cell damage in smokers. This result appears in many farmers who smoke.