Breath Test for Chemicals Program Update - A Path to Empowerment

The following is a message from Mike,
Director of Finance, MEBO Research

Since we announced the Breath Test for Chemicals Study in October, we have received an overwhelming positive response from our international community. MEBO Research has absolutely loved to see all the support and interest in this study. As we move forward, we have worked with the Menssana Research Laboratory to identify, out of the 200 odorant compounds the Breath Apparatus can detect, which odorous compounds were indeed part of the overall spectrum of compounds to be detected in the breath.

It is very interesting that 60% of the molecules that have been identified as odorous will be covered, providing insight on the endogenous metabolic processes.

In 2008, MEBO had identified a range of chemicals and their associated odors. Using this list, Menssana Research Laboratory conducted extensive research utilizing their toxicology database and combing through 700-800 patients profiles to identify the higher concentrated chemicals (mostly four carbon atoms and above) that mostly affect the community. We received the report from the Menssana Laboratory and placed the information in the table below. Dr. Phillips and the Menssana team have been very open to working with our community, and empathetic to our needs.

CHEMICAL	ODOR	ORIGIN	BREATH TEST (detect or highly plausible)
hydrogen sulfide	rotten eggs	sulfur compound, methionine
methylmercaptans	rotten cabbage		Yes – specifically saw ethylmercaptan, 1- (4-methoxymethyl) phenyl – and 3-Methylbenzyl mercaptan
diethyl - sulfide	rotten vegetables		Yes
acetic acid	vinegar	phenolic compound	Yes – both pure and branched chain derivatives
phenol	medicinal, sweet	tyrosine	Yes – both pure and derivatives
p-cresol	fecal	tryptophan, tyrosine	Yes – specifically 4, 6-di-tert-butyl-m-cresol
butanoic acid (other name: Butyric acid)	rancid butter	fiber, histidine	Yes – pure and derivatives
butyric	sour meat
methionine	rancid butter	sulfur, carnitine
indole	mothball, fecal	tryptophan	Yes – pure and derivatives
Methylamine (derivative of ammonia)	fishy, pungent	nitrogen compound
dimethylamine	ammonia-like odor	secondary amine	Yes – possible derivatives
Diethylamine		secondary amine (strong odor, volatile, alkaline)
ammonia	sharp, pungent
indol	fecal	Tryptophan (indolic amino acid)
Skatole (belongs to the indol family)	fecal, pungent	tryptophan
Acetylaldehyde	fruity, pungent	(a product of alcohol metabolism in liver)	Yes
acetone	sweet, fruity, pungent		Yes
2-aminoacetophenone	musky, grape-like
" " + indole	wet dog
methylcrotonic acid	cat urine	organic acid, acid
isovaleric acid	sweaty feet; strong punget cheesy or sweaty smell	leucine
phenylalanine	musty/mousy	amino acid	Yes – 4-phenylalanine – only derivatives
branched chain amino acids	Sweet maple syrup smell of the urine	amino acid	Yes – specifically identified leucine, isoleucine, and valine
2-nonanone	Banana-like fruity		Yes
trimethylamine	fishy, ammoniacal	choline
cadaverine	rotting corpse	lysine
dimethylglycine	fishy	choline
caproic/capric acid	sour/goat like odor	short chain fatty acids	Yes – pure and derivatives under synonym (hexanoic acid)
napthalene			Yes
bytyric acid	Acrid, Butter, parmesan cheese, vomit	Product of anaerobic fermentation in gut	Yes – pure and derivatives

Source: Mace, J., Goodman, S., Centerwall, W., & Chinnock, R. (1976). The child with an unusual odor. A clinical resumé. Clinical Pediatrics, 15(1), 57-62. MeBO Research Blog, 2008

A match to or higher than normal levels of any of the identifying compounds would aid in the tracing of disorders/diseases and narrowly focus in on potential treatment protocols.

The chemicals listed above are not all encompassing of the breath test, but will include a broad spectrum of 200 odorants over 4C. It is very interesting that 60% of the molecules that have been identified as odorous will be covered, providing insight on the endogenous metabolic processes. A match to or higher than normal levels of any of the identifying compounds would aid in the tracing of disorders/diseases and narrowly focus in on potential treatment protocols. For any single compound, its contribution to odor depends on odor (olfactory) power, threshold (of detection) and volatility in addition to the concentration.

We had hoped the program would have initiated this month, but since we are sponsoring a multi-center study, MEBO is in the process of drafting the associated testing protocols in an effort to get the study approved by an independent institutional review board (IRB). Once we have completed this process we should be able to start the testing process, most likely in the first quarter of 2012. In order to accurately identify the number of participants and coordinate the breath testing, we ask that you fill out the requisition form. A requisition form will contain a PayPal invoice. Testing will begin early 2012 in Chicago, Miami, New Jersey, London, Australia and other locations to be announced at a later date.

MEBO has placed major efforts in contacting and establishing a relationship with scientists, researchers, doctors, and other experts to establish quality testing and research, so that our community can find answers to systemic types of odors as well as to promote a testing culture conducive to raising awareness of body odor conditions in the medical community. With the continued patience of the community, MEBO will continue its efforts in maintaining a proactive stance in finding better treatment and cures. We appreciate the strong outpour of community support we have received in this ongoing effort.