Abstract
Objective: To examine whether breath acetone concentration (BrAce) is a useful indicator of fat loss during weight reduction.
Methods: The study included 45 healthy women who took the Tokyo Adventist Hospital Weight Reduction Class between January 2011 and July 2014. They took the class once a week 6 times and blood was taken at the first and the end of the course. BrAce was measured by gas chromatography.
Results: Body weight and body fat as well as blood pressure, blood glucose, lipids, and liver function improved significantly. This was accompanied by improvements in lifestyle behavior as assessed by a behavior change checklist. Total ketone body in blood had increased significantly at the end of the 6-week course (total ketone body: beginning 73.6 ± 59.2 μmol/L, end 240.5 ± 193.8 μmol/L, p < 0.001). BrAce increased gradually in conjunction with decreases in body weight and body fat and it increased significantly from the 5th class. The increase in BrAce was significant at the end of the course (BrAce: beginning 529.2 ± 150.8 ppb, end 1156.6 ± 590.9 ppb, p < 0.001).
Conclusions: Breath acetone measurement is a non-invasive, useful means of monitoring fat burning and can be a good motivator to lose weight.
