Abstract
Rapid detection of shifts in substrate utilization and energy balance would provide a compelling biofeedback tool for individuals attempting weight loss. As a proof of concept, we tested whether the natural abundance of exhaled carbon stable isotope ratios (breath δ13C) reflects shifts between negative and positive energy balance. Volunteers (n=5) consumed a 40% energy-restricted diet for 6 days followed by 50% excess on day 7. Breath was sampled immediately before and 1 h and 2 h after breakfast, lunch and dinner. Exhaled breath δ13C values were measured by cavity ring-down spectroscopy. Using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnett’s contrasts, pre-breakfast breath values on days 2–6 were compared with day 1, and postprandial day 7 time points were compared with pre-breakfast day 7. Energy restriction diminished pre-breakfast breath δ13C by day 3 (P<0.05). On day 7, increased energy intake was first detected immediately before dinner (−23.8±0.6 vs −21.9±0.7‰, P=0.002 (means±s.d.)), and breath δ13C remained elevated at least 2 h post dinner. In conclusion, when shifting between negative and positive energy balance, breath δ13C showed anticipated isotopic changes. Although additional research is needed to determine specificity and repeatability, this method may provide a biomarker for marked increases in caloric intake.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $21.58 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Berryman EM, Marshall JD, Rahn T, Cook SP, Litvak M . Adaptation of continuous-flow cavity ring-down spectroscopy for batch analysis of δ13C of CO2 and comparison with isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 2011; 25: 2355–2360.
Hatch KA, Sacksteder KA, Treichel IW, Cook ME, Porter WP . Early detection of catabolic state via change in 13C/12C ratios of blood proteins. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1995; 212: 719–726.
Butz DE, Cook ME, Eghbalnia HR, Assadi-Porter F, Porter WP . Changes in the natural abundance of 13CO2/12CO2 in breath due to lipopolysacchride-induced acute phase response. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 2009; 23: 3729–3735.
DeNiro MJ, Epstein S . Mechanism of carbon isotope fractionation associated with lipid synthesis. Science 1977; 197: 261–263.
Schoeller DA, Brown C, Nakamura K, Nakagawa A, Mazzeo RS, Brooks GA et al. Influence of metabolic fuel on the 13C/12C ratio of breath CO2 . Biomed Mass Spectrom 1984; 11: 557–561.
Jacobson BS, Smith BN, Epstein S, Laties GG . The prevalence of carbon-13 in respiratory carbon dioxide as an indicator of the types of endogenous substrate. The change from lipid to carbohydrate during the respiratory rise in potato slices. J Gen Physiol 1970; 55: 1–17.
Schoeller DA, Klein PD, Watkins JB, Heim T, MacLean WC Jr . 13C abundances of nutrients and the effect of variations in 13C isotopic abundances of test meals formulated for 13CO2 breath tests. Am J Clin Nutr 1980; 33: 2375–2385.
Mifflin MD St, Jeor ST, Hill LA, Daughty SA, Koh YO . A new predictive equation for resting energy expenditure in healthy individuals. Am J Clin Nutr 1990; 51: 241–247.
Cook CM, Alvig AL, Liu YQ, Schoeller DA . The natural 13C abundance of plasma glucose is a useful biomarker of recent dietary caloric sweetener intake. J Nutr 2010; 140: 333–337.
Schoeller DA . Recent advances from application of doubly labeled water to measurement of human energy expenditure. J Nutr 1999; 129: 1765–1768.
Heymsfield SB, Darby PC, Muhlheim LS, Gallagher D, Wolper C, Allison DB . The calorie: myth, and reality. Am J Clin Nutr. 1995; 62: 1034S–1041S.
Racette SB, Schoeller DA, Kushner RF, Neil KM . Exercise enhances dietary compliance during moderate energy restriction in obese women. Am J Clin Nutr 1995; 62: 345–349.
Baker RC, Kirschenbaum DS . Self-monitoring may be necessary for successful weight control. Behav Ther 1993; 24: 377–394.
Powell LM, Nguyen BT, Han E . Energy Intake from Restaurants Demographics and Socioeconomics, 2003–2008. Am J Prev Med 2012; 43: 498–504.
Acknowledgements
We wish to thank Reema Kaloti and Tim Shriver for dietary analysis, and Clint Hall for assistance with manuscript preparation. This study was supported in part by a USDA Hatch grant at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
DEB, WPP and MEC have ownership interest in Isomark, LLC, which has licensed the technology reported in this publication. WPP and MEC hold a patent entitled ‘Passive measurement of isotopes to monitor health’ (#5,912,178), and DEB, WPP and MEC hold a patent entitled ‘Identification of disease characteristics using isotope ratios in breath’ (#7,465,276 B2). DAS received a grant from Dairy Management, Inc. for evaluation of 13C biomarkers. The remaining authors declare no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Supplementary Information accompanies this paper on International Journal of Obesity website
Supplementary information
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Whigham, L., Butz, D., Johnson, L. et al. Breath carbon stable isotope ratios identify changes in energy balance and substrate utilization in humans. Int J Obes 38, 1248–1250 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2014.7
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2014.7
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Naturally enriched 13C breath test as a carbohydrate intake marker in obese women
Nutrire (2020)
-
Tailoring nutrition therapy to illness and recovery
Critical Care (2017)
-
13C-Breath testing in animals: theory, applications, and future directions
Journal of Comparative Physiology B (2016)