Abstract
Exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are of interest due to their minimally invasive sampling procedure. Previous studies have investigated the impact of exercise, with evidence suggesting that breath VOCs reflect exercise-induced metabolic activity. However, these studies have yet to investigate the impact of maximal exercise to exhaustion on breath VOCs, which was the main aim of this study. Two-litre breath samples were collected onto thermal desorption tubes using a portable breath collection unit. Samples were collected pre-exercise, and at 10 and 60 min following a maximal exercise test (VO2MAX). Breath VOCs were analysed by thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using a non-targeted approach. Data showed a tendency for reduced isoprene in samples at 10 min post-exercise, with a return to baseline by 60 min. However, inter-individual variation meant differences between baseline and 10 min could not be confirmed, although the 10 and 60 min timepoints were different (p = 0.041). In addition, baseline samples showed a tendency for both acetone and isoprene to be reduced in those with higher absolute VO2MAX scores (mL(O2)/min), although with restricted statistical power. Baseline samples could not differentiate between relative VO2MAX scores (mL(O2)/kg/min). In conclusion, these data support that isoprene levels are dynamic in response to exercise.
Highlights
Metabolomics has emerged to become a powerful tool within the bioanalytical locker through its capacity to provide information on the small-molecule metabolites that are present within the biological system and linked to physiological state [1]
To assess changes in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) caused by the maximal exercise protocol, multivariate analysis was performed across the three exercise stages
A Kruskal–Wallis H test indicated that there was not an equal distribution of ranks across the three timepoints and pairwise comparisons indicated an increase in exhaled isoprene between the 10 and 60 min post-exercise timepoints (p = 0.041)
Summary
Metabolomics has emerged to become a powerful tool within the bioanalytical locker through its capacity to provide information on the small-molecule metabolites that are present within the biological system and linked to physiological state [1]. One subsection of metabolomics includes the measurement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present within exhaled breath gases [5] These compounds, which are a major contributor to the total human volatilome [6], have been studied for their capacity to provide biochemical information from the human system using a none or minimally invasive collection protocol [7]. Of interest to scientists in this area to understand if the data seen at low-grade exercise are translatable to higher intensities, and whether the exhaled VOC profile of individuals could be altered by physical fitness This exercise testing approach could be of further interest to the metabolomics community as many studies look to employ a ‘control’ group of participants. The data were investigated for profile differences across these timepoints, as well as considering whether baseline (i.e., at rest) samples were able to identify differences in physical performance capabilities
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