A study published in Cell Metabolism indicates that chemicals found in exhaled breath may reveal the identity of microbes present in a person's gut. The research, led by immunologist Andrew Kau and his colleagues at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, involved both mice and 41 children.
The team measured molecule levels in exhaled breath, demonstrating their capacity to partially predict the identity and abundance of specific gut bacteria, including one linked to asthma. Kau affirmed that the composition of the gut microbiome can influence the types of compounds detectable in breath.
This work could facilitate the development of diagnostic devices for infections and aid in guiding treatments for conditions influenced by gut bacteria. These methods would offer a less complex and time-consuming alternative to existing stool sample tests. Katrine Whiteson, a biochemist at the University of California, Irvine, highlighted that breath provides comprehensive information from the lungs and the entire body.
Scientists have long investigated the potential of using chemical metabolites in breath for disease diagnosis, as human cells and bacteria generate numerous molecules that can enter the bloodstream, circulate to the lungs, and diffuse into exhaled air. Kelly Redeker, a chemist at the University of York, noted the considerable complexity inherent in this research area.