Breath Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Breath for Better Health Study
IRAS ID
226198
Contact name
Ramesh Arasaradnam
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 1 days
Research summary
Breath analysis is becoming of increasing interest to researchers throughout the world for disease identification and monitoring. It is known that small chemicals dissolved in the blood can pass through the blood/air barrier within the lungs and be exhaled in normal breath, with many of these chemicals being potential biomarkers for a broad range of diseases. These specific biomarkers need to be identified so that gas analysis instruments and sensors can be designed to detect these chemicals.
The aim of this study is to determine if there are biomarkers in exhaled breath that correlate with blood glucose concentration. This biomarker can then be used to produce a new device that will allow diabetic patients to monitor their blood glucose levels in a quick and non-invasive way. We believe this will lead to a significant improvement in the quality of life of those suffering from this condition.
In this study breath samples will be collected using three different methods to maximise the chemical information available from each breath. Breath samples from Type 2 diabetic patients will be compared with healthy controls. Sub-groups will have repeated breath samples after drinking orange juice or during normal day-to-day activities. This is to measure any changes in breath chemicals over time. The chemicals detected will be compared with blood tests, to identify potential breath biomarkers for blood glucose concentration, and to see if factors such as sex, age, and diet have any effect on the biomarkers detected.
This is a single centre pilot study taking place at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, and the analysis of the breath samples will be carried out at the University of Warwick. This study is funded by Boydsense, a US company whose mission is to change how chronic conditions are detected and monitored, through breath analysis.REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SW/0117
Date of REC Opinion
7 Jun 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion