Membrane inlet mass spectrometry method for food intake impact assessment on specific volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath.

This research work describes the development of a novel bioanalytical method for the assessment of food impact on selected exhaled breath volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using a fast and portable screening VOC prototype sensor based on membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS). Method and sensor prototype functionality was verified by obtaining good response times, linearity in the examined concentration ranges, and sensitivity and repeatability for several breath VOCs-acetone, ethanol, n-pentane, and isoprene. A new VOC sensor prototype was also proven to be sensitive enough for selected breath VOC quantification with limits of detection at low part per billion (ppb) levels-5 ppb for n-pentane, 10 ppb for acetone and ethanol, and 25 ppb for isoprene. Food impact assessment was accomplished by tracking the levels of acetone, ethanol, n-pentane, and isoprene in exhaled breath samples collected from 50 healthy participants before the meal and 60 min and 120 min after the meal. For acetone, isoprene, and n-pentane, a larger impact was noticed 120 min after the meal, while for ethanol, it was after 60 min. Obtained VOC levels were in the expected concentration ranges. Mean values at all time points were ~ 500-900 ppb for acetone and ~ 400-600 ppb for ethanol. Most of the results for n-pentane were below 5 ppb, but the mean value for those which were detected was ~ 30 ppb. Along with samples, data about participants' lifestyle were collected via a short questionnaire, which were compared against obtained VOC levels in order to reveal some significant correlations between habits of participants and their breath VOC levels. Portable MS: monitoring of food impact on the levels of selected VOCs from exhaled breath.

Food and lifestyle impact on breath VOCs using portable mass spectrometer-pilot study across European countries.

In the modern world, many people are changing old dietary and lifestyle habits to improve the quality of their living-to treat or just prevent possible diseases. The main goal of this pilot study was to assess the food and lifestyle impact on exhaled breath volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in various population groups. It was done by employing a recently validated portable membrane-inlet mass spectrometer-MIMS. Thus, the obtained results would also represent the additional confirmation for the employment of the new instrument in the breath analysis. The pilot study involved 151 participants across Europe, including people with overweight, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, people with poor-quality diet and professional athletes. Exhaled breath acetone, ethanol, isoprene, and n-pentane levels were determined in samples before the meal, and 120 min after the meal. Obtained basal ppbvvalues were mainly in accordance with previously reported, which confirms that MIMS instrument can be used in the breath analysis. Combining the quantified levels along with the information about the participants' lifestyle habits collected via questionnaire, an assessment of the food and lifestyle impact was obtained. Notable alteration in examined VOC levels upon meal consumption was detected in more than 70% of all participants, with exception for isoprene, which was affected in about half of participants. Lifestyle parameters impact was examined using statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) on ranks test. Statistically significant differences in basal breath VOC levels were observed among all examined population groups. Also, n-pentane and ethanol levels significantly differed in people of different ages, as well as acetone levels in people with different physical activity habits. These findings are promising for further, more focused research using MIMS technique in breath analysis.