Molecules found in exhaled breath indicate whether your body is actively burning fat.Credit: Mascot/Getty
The innovative handheld breath test offers real-time insights into fat burning, allowing individuals to track their metabolic state without waiting weeks for scale changes.1 This breakthrough could be a game-changer for those managing weight loss, albeit further testing on larger groups is required to ensure accuracy.
Metabolizing free fatty acids in the liver promotes a metabolic state known as ketosis. Typically achieved through low-carb diets and intense exercise, detecting ketosis in real time can be challenging.
While several consumer breath testing devices are available, many fail to reliably detect ketosis2 or lack scientific validation3. Traditional methods like MRI and body composition scans provide accurate fat measurement but necessitate clinical visits. Andreas Güntner, a molecular sensing researcher at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, noted that while blood samples can measure ketones produced during fat burning, they require a finger prick.
The Fat Burning Breathalyzer is designed for home application. Users simply blow into the device, which measures acetone levels—this compound is released when fatty acids are metabolized, especially during exercise, fasting, or dietary changes.
What distinguishes this breathalyzer is its companion smartphone app that enhances measurement accuracy by guiding the user’s breathing. Unlike other devices that measure ketones directly from breath, this one separates acetone for more reliable readings, mitigating interference from breath humidity and environmental factors. This research is detailed in the journal Nature. The invention is commercialized by Alivion AG, a spin-off from ETH Zurich, which holds the patent for the technology.
Small Trial
The device’s accuracy was evaluated in a small trial with 12 healthy volunteers who underwent varied exercise and dietary conditions aimed at inducing rapid or gradual metabolic changes. Breath acetone readings from the device were compared to the gold standard, proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-MS). The handheld breathalyzer demonstrated significant agreement with PTR-MS measurements, according to the authors’ findings.
Source: www.nature.com