BREATH analysis may soon play a crucial role in asthma management, as new research highlights the potential of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as non-invasive biomarkers for monitoring controlled asthma. A recent study examined the presence of specific VOCs in exhaled breath from patients with clinically controlled asthma and compared these profiles to healthy controls. The findings offer promising insights into how VOCs could be used to better understand asthma and personalise patient care.
Volatile Organic Compounds in Breath Linked to Controlled Asthma
The study, which included 120 asthma patients and 89 healthy controls, identified several key differences in VOCs exhaled by individuals with asthma. Specifically, asthma patients exhaled less propanoic acid and more nonanoic acid compared to the control group. Propanoic acid was found at significantly lower frequencies in asthma patients (25.0%) compared to healthy controls (53.9%), suggesting it may serve as a protective biomarker against asthma. Conversely, nonanoic acid was more frequently detected in asthma patients (30.8%) than in controls (15.7%), which could indicate an increased asthma risk.
Tobacco Exposure Alters Volatile Organic Compound Profiles in Asthma
The study also explored the influence of tobacco exposure on these VOCs. Both current and former smokers with asthma showed significantly higher levels of nonanoic acid in their exhaled breath compared to non-smoking controls. These findings suggest that smoking history may alter the VOC profiles of asthma patients, which could have implications for tailoring asthma management strategies, especially for smokers.
Propanoic and Nonanoic Acids as Biomarkers
Statistical analysis reinforced the potential role of these VOCs in asthma diagnostics. Propanoic acid was identified as a protective factor for asthma, while nonanoic acid significantly increased asthma risk. These findings suggest that VOCs like propanoic and nonanoic acids could be used as complementary biomarkers for asthma monitoring, independent of smoking status. The study highlights the promising potential of breath analysis for asthma management, offering a non-invasive and accessible method for tracking disease progression and tailoring treatment.
As research into breath biomarkers continues, VOC analysis may provide a key tool in improving asthma management, offering real-time insights into the inflammatory processes underlying the disease. This could lead to better therapeutic monitoring and more personalised approaches to asthma care, especially for those with smoking histories.
Reference
Díaz-Campos R et al. Breathomics in controlled asthma: identification of nonanoic and propanoic acids as volatile organic compounds. ERJ Open Res. 2025; DOI:10.1183/23120541.00435-2025.
