Repeated Measures of Blood and Breath Ammonia in Response to Control, Moderate and High Protein Dose in Healthy Men

Abstract

Ammonia physiology is important to numerous disease states including urea cycle disorders and hepatic encephalopathy. However, many unknowns persist regarding the ammonia response to common and potentially significant physiologic influences, such as food. Our aim was to evaluate the dynamic range of ammonia in response to an oral protein challenge in healthy participants. We measured blood and breath ammonia at baseline and every hour for 5.5 hours. Healthy men (N = 22, aged 18 to 24 years) consumed a 60 g protein shake (high dose); a subset of 10 consumed a 30 g protein shake (moderate dose) and 12 consumed an electrolyte drink containing 0 g protein (control). Change in blood ammonia over time varied by dose (p = 0.001). Difference in blood ammonia was significant for control versus high (p = 0.0004) and moderate versus high (p = 0.03). Change in breath ammonia over time varied by dose (p < 0.0001). Difference in breath ammonia was significant for control versus moderate (p = 0.03) and control versus high (p = 0.0003). Changes in blood and breath ammonia were detectable by fast, minimally-invasive (blood) or non-invasive (breath) point-of-care ammonia measurement methods. These pilot data may contribute to understanding normal ammonia metabolism. Novel measurement methods may aid research into genetic and metabolic ammonia disorders.

Physiological and metabolic effects of healthy female aging on exhaled breath biomarkers

“…High-resolution and real time mass spectrometry based noninvasive, rapid, and repeated evaluation of exhaled volatile metabolites offers immediate overview of various physio-metabolic ( Spacek et al., 2018 ; Sukul et al., 2014 , 2015 , 2017a ), biochemical ( Refat et al., 1991 ; Sukul et al., 2021 ; Weber et al., n.d. ) and pathological/therapeutic processes ( Löser et al., 2020 ; Paardekooper et al., 2017 ; Trefz et al., 2019 ) via breathomics. Previously we have demonstrated the effects of natural menstrual cycle and oral contraception on the exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) profile from healthy adults ( Sukul et al., 2018 ).…”

Assessment of oral and overall health parameters using the SillHa Oral Wellness System

“…Studies have reported that the presence of such ammonia producing bacteria may be beneficial and is correlated with decreased caries incidence, as these species aid in maintaining a more alkaline oral environment that is less prone to demineralization 8 . The source of these metabolic substrates can vary, however, coming from a combination of diet, secretion through salivary glands, or poor oral hygiene 9,10 . As for urea secreted through salivary glands, it can be associated with proteinaceous diets or systemic health conditions 9,10 .…”

“…The source of these metabolic substrates can vary, however, coming from a combination of diet, secretion through salivary glands, or poor oral hygiene 9,10 . As for urea secreted through salivary glands, it can be associated with proteinaceous diets or systemic health conditions 9,10 .…”

Natural menstrual rhythm and oral contraception diversely affect exhaled breath compositions

“…The major source of breath ammonia is protein metabolism 28 and its exhalation depends on changes of blood-pH e.g. due to respiratory acidosis or alkalosis 20 .…”

“…Human physiology plays the crucial role in bronco-pulmonary gas-exchange and thereby, on VOC exhalation 26 , 27 . Thus, real-time profiling of exhaled alveolar VOC concentrations can contribute new insight into biochemical- and metabolic changes 28 , 29 induced by normal or abnormal physiological effects. Real-time mass-spectrometric (MS) techniques e.g.…”