
Open access
Date
2018-11Type
- Journal Article
Citations
Cited 49 times in
Web of Science
Cited 50 times in
Scopus
ETH Bibliography
yes
Altmetrics
Abstract
Ketogenic diet (KD; high fat, low carb) is a standard treatment for obesity, neurological diseases (e.g., refractory epilepsy) and a promising method for athletes to improve their endurance performance. Therein, the level of ketosis must be regulated tightly to ensure an effective therapy. Here, we introduce a compact and inexpensive breath sensor to monitor ketosis online and non-invasively. The sensor consists of Si-doped WO3 nanoparticles that detect breath acetone selectively with non-linear response characteristics in the relevant range of 1 to 66 ppm, as identified by mass spectrometry. When tested on eleven subjects (five women and six men) undergoing a 36-h KD based on the Johns Hopkins protocol, this sensor clearly recognizes the onset and progression of ketosis. This is in good agreement to capillary blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BOHB) measurements. Despite similar dieting conditions, strong inter-subject differences in ketosis dynamics were observed and correctly identified by the sensor. These even included breath acetone patterns that could be linked to low tolerance to that diet. As a result, this portable breath sensor represents an easily applicable and reliable technology to monitor KD, possibly during medical treatment of epilepsy and weight loss. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000299324Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
SensorsVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
MDPISubject
Chemical sensor; Breath analysis; Semiconductor; Nanotechnology; Flame spray pyrolysis; Point-of-care; BiomedicalOrganisational unit
03510 - Pratsinis, Sotiris E. / Pratsinis, Sotiris E.
09794 - Güntner, Andreas / Güntner, Andreas
Funding
159763 - Nanostructured metal-oxide gas sensors for non-invasive disease detection by breath analysis (SNF)
175754 - Flame-made gas sensor arrays: Membrane-enhanced selectivity for breath analysis (SNF)
170729 - Integrated system for in operando characterization and development of portable breath analyzers (SNF)
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Show all metadata
Citations
Cited 49 times in
Web of Science
Cited 50 times in
Scopus
ETH Bibliography
yes
Altmetrics