Carbonyl Group VOCs: Unveiling Their Role in Breath Diagnostics and Lung Disease

Breath analysis is rapidly transforming the landscape of medical diagnostics, offering a non-invasive window into the body’s metabolic and disease processes. Among the many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detectable in exhaled breath, carbonyl group VOCs—such as aldehydes and ketones—stand out as particularly promising biomarkers for lung diseases, including cancer and chronic inflammatory conditions.

What Are Carbonyl Group VOCs?

Carbonyl VOCs are organic molecules characterized by the presence of a carbonyl functional group (C=O). This group is found in aldehydes (e.g., formaldehyde, acetaldehyde) and ketones (e.g., acetone), which are produced both endogenously (within the body) and exogenously (from environmental sources). In the context of breath analysis, these compounds are of special interest because their concentrations can reflect underlying metabolic changes associated with disease^[1].

Origins: How Do Carbonyl VOCs Appear in Breath?

The human body generates carbonyl VOCs through several pathways:

·      Endogenous Metabolism: Oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and cellular metabolism naturally produce carbonyl compounds. For example, acetone is a byproduct of fatty acid metabolism, while aldehydes can result from the breakdown of cell membranes during inflammation or oxidative damage^[1].

·      Environmental Exposure: Inhalation of pollutants, solvents, and chemicals (such as those found in paints, cleaning agents, or beauty products) can introduce carbonyl VOCs into the body, where they may be metabolized and subsequently exhaled^[2][3].

·      Disease Processes: Pathological conditions, especially those involving chronic inflammation or malignancy, can accelerate the production of specific carbonyl VOCs. For instance, lung cancer cells often exhibit altered metabolic pathways that increase the generation of certain aldehydes and ketones^[1].

Carbonyl VOCs as Disease Biomarkers

Carbonyl VOCs are more than just metabolic byproducts—they are emerging as sensitive biomarkers for a range of lung diseases:

·      Lung Cancer: Recent studies have demonstrated that a panel of six carbonyl VOCs in exhaled breath can effectively distinguish lung cancer patients from healthy individuals and those with benign lung nodules. These compounds are elevated due to the oxidative stress and metabolic dysregulation characteristic of cancerous tissue. In one clinical study, a model based on these six carbonyl VOCs achieved a classification accuracy of up to 97% for lung cancer detection, with high sensitivity and specificity^[1].

• Pulmonary Fibrosis: Recent research has demonstrated that exhaled carbonyl compounds are closely linked to the diagnosis and severity of pulmonary fibrosis. Elevated levels of specific carbonyl VOCs reflect underlying oxidative stress and tissue remodeling in the lungs, providing a non-invasive window into disease progression^[2].
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Asthma: Increased carbonyl VOCs in breath have also been linked to chronic inflammatory lung diseases, where ongoing tissue damage and repair processes generate these compounds ^[4,5].‍
• Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases: Chronic exposure to carbonyl VOCs—whether from internal metabolic processes or environmental sources—can contribute to persistent inflammation and immune system dysregulation. This is particularly relevant in autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, where VOCs may act as proinflammatory activators, modifying self-proteins and triggering immune responses. For example, acetaldehyde has been shown to induce autoimmunity and increase inflammation, while other carbonyl compounds can alter immune cell function and promote tissue injury^[2].

Occupational and Environmental Health

Individuals exposed to high levels of carbonyl VOCs in occupational settings (such as beauty salons or industrial environments) may be at increased risk for respiratory and systemic diseases. Chronic inhalation of these compounds can lead to symptoms ranging from mucous membrane irritation to more severe outcomes like asthma, neurological effects, and even increased cancer risk^[3].

The Future: Fast, Reliable Detection with OneBreath™

Traditional breath analysis methods have struggled with slow processing times and the risk of degrading sensitive VOCs by using thermal desorption tubes combined with hard ionization methods during analysis. Our OneBreath™ system overcomes these hurdles by capturing and analyzing carbonyl VOCs in under 10 minutes, without the need for sample desorption procedures or complex sample preparation. This means more accurate and reproducible, real-time insights into lung health, with the potential to catch diseases earlier and monitor their progression more effectively.

Key Takeaways

·      Carbonyl group VOCs are critical biomarkers for lung diseases, reflecting both internal metabolic changes and external exposures.

·      Elevated levels of these compounds in breath are linked to conditions like pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, COPD, and autoimmune diseases.

·      Rapid, non-invasive detection of carbonyl VOCs is now possible with advanced technologies like OneBreath™, paving the way for earlier diagnosis and better patient outcomes.

At Breath Diagnostics Inc., we’re committed to harnessing the power of breath to revolutionize disease detection. By focusing on carbonyl group VOCs, we’re opening new frontiers in non-invasive diagnostics—one breath at a time.

References

1.     Li M, Yang D, Brock G, Knipp RJ, Bousamra M, Nantz MH, Fu XA. Breath carbonyl compounds as biomarkers of lung cancer. Lung Cancer. 2015 Oct;90(1):92-7. doi: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2015.07.005. Epub 2015 Jul 19. PMID: 26233567. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26233567/ )

2.     Ogbodo JO, Arazu AV, Iguh TC, Onwodi NJ, Ezike TC. Volatile organic compounds: A proinflammatory activator in autoimmune diseases. Front Immunol. 2022 Jul 29;13:928379. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.928379. PMID: 35967306; PMCID: PMC9373925. (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9373925/ )

3.     Choi YH, Kim HJ, Sohn JR, Seo JH. Occupational exposure to VOCs and carbonyl compounds in beauty salons and health risks associated with it in South Korea. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2023 May;256:114873. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114873. Epub 2023 Apr 10. PMID: 37043945. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37043945/  )

4.     Ibrahim W, Natarajan S, Wilde M, Cordell R, Monks PS, Greening N, Brightling CE, Evans R, Siddiqui S. A systematic review of the diagnostic accuracy of volatile organic compounds in airway diseases and their relation to markers of type-2 inflammation. ERJ Open Res. 2021 Aug 31;7(3):00030-2021. doi: 10.1183/23120541.00030-2021. PMID: 34476250; PMCID: PMC8405872. (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8405872/)

5.     Shahbazi Khamas S, Alizadeh Bahmani AH, Vijverberg SJH, Brinkman P, Maitland-van der Zee AH. Exhaled volatile organic compounds associated with risk factors for obstructive pulmonary diseases: a systematic review. ERJ Open Res. 2023 Aug 29;9(4):00143-2023. doi: 10.1183/23120541.00143-2023. PMID: 37650089; PMCID: PMC10463028. (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10463028/)

‍