Test Breath Ketones without a Ketonix (using a cheap breathalyzer)

ketonix
acetone
breath
#582

Excellent reply Tomo! Thank you.
Therefore, if I am getting anything besides 0 with my cheap breathalizer, I am in the right place,
correct?

#583

Very likely yes, although other gases may interfere (ethanol obviously). But keep in mind that just because it shows zero doesn’t mean in you are not in ketosis. I don’t know what the lower detection limit of acetone is for your device (below this value it will show 0 even though there is some acetone), especially having in mind that it was not designed for acetone detection.

#585

Thanks Vince! I’m going to use the BAC as evidence to what I am or am not doing from the days before to keep me in ketosis. It motivates me to keep on track. I am not aware enough yet to depend on how I feel, but that will come as I progress.

#586

My first reading 3 days ago was 0.02%.
Yesterday, 0.06%.
Today 0.05%.
I have lost 3 lbs in the last 10 days and am down to 111 lbs.
No “keto flu” symptoms and my macros have been fat 65%, protein 20%, carbs 15%.
No alcohol.
No cravings except for salt every few days.

(Todd Allen) #587

I also have a keychain Greenwon. Here’s my typical results in testing mine against blood ketone strips. Note that because breath and blood are measuring different ketones the correlation is somewhat weak and likely to change somewhat over time probably with factors such as ones exercise volume, liver health, body fat %, etc.

0.00 or 0.01% BAC , below 0.3 mmol/L, ie neglible level of ketosis
0.02% BAC, 0.3 +/- 0.2 mmol/L
0.03% BAC, 0.5 +/- 0.2 mmol/L
0.04% BAC, 0.8 +/- 0.2 mmol/L
0.05% BAC, 1.2 +/- 0.3 mmol/L
0.10% BAC, 2.4 +/- 0.4 mmol/L
0.19% BAC, >5.0 mmol/L

So for me, 0.04% is my target and I’m mostly in the range 0.03-0.05% except when fasting and I go much higher. When low I get increasingly strict with carbs or will skip a meal. And when high I’ll have a piece of fruit or other limited indulgences.

I have two other meters both of which are less sensitive at low levels of ketones but ramp up faster at higher levels of ketones.

(Dan Dan) #588

re-posting this so its easier to find :smile:

Just came across research that correlates Ketones in the breath with Ketones in the blood and verifies the formulas: ppm = BAC x 100/2 and nmol/L = ppm x 40.

According to the research “Breath acetone concentration (BrAce) has a non‐linear relationship with blood β‐hydroxybutyrate…the non‐linear relationship between BrAce and BOHB appears to correlate well. BrAce is most sensitive to changes in BOHB between 0 and 1 mM.”

0.04 BAC x 100/2 = 2ppm Breath Acetone correlates to 0.5 mMol/L Blood Ketones
2ppm x 40 = 80 nMol/L Breath Acetone correlates to 0.5 mMol/L Blood Ketones

0.10 BAC x 100/2 = 5ppm Breath Acetone correlates to 1.0 mMol/L Blood Ketones
5ppm x 40 = 200 nMol/L Breath Acetone correlates to 1.0 mMol/L Blood Ketones

Nutritional Ketosis Begins at 0.5 mMol/L Blood Ketones correlates to BAC 0.04 (BrAce)

Optimal Ketone Zone Begins at 1.0 mMol/L Blood Ketones correlates to BAC 0.10 (BrAce)

One More Greenwon Breathalyzer Question
(Dan Dan) #589

re-posting this so its easier to find :smile:

Found another study and this one showed that there is a linear correlation between Blood Ketones and Breath Ketones. So I went thru my research and found a correlation between three of the Ketonix Models and the Cheap Breathalyzer. The Cheap Breathalyzer correlates almost perfectly with the Blue and Green Ranges on the two older Ketonix Models and Perfectly with the Blue and Green Ranges of the New Ketonix Model.

Blood Ketone correlation to Acetone/ketones in your breath (Cheap Breathalyzer):
0.125 mmol/L : 0.01 BAC = 0.5ppm = 20nmol/L
0.25 mmol/L : 0.02 BAC = 1ppm = 40nmol/L
0.375 mmol/L : 0.03 BAC = 1.5ppm = 60nmol/L
0.5 mmol/L : 0.04 BAC = 2ppm = 80nmol/L
0.625 mmol/L : 0.05 BAC = 2.5ppm = 100nmol/L
0.75 mmol/L : 0.06 BAC = 3ppm = 120nmol/L
0.875 mmol/L : 0.07 BAC = 3.5ppm = 140nmol/L
1.0 mmol/L : 0.08 BAC = 4ppm = 160nmol/L
1.125 mmol/L : 0.09 BAC = 4.5ppm = 180nmol/L
1.25 mmol/L : 0.10 BAC = 5ppm = 200nmol/L
1.375 mmol/L : 0.11 BAC = 5.5ppm = 220nmol/L
1.5 mmol/L : 0.12 BAC = 6ppm = 240nmol/L
1.625 mmol/L : 0.13 BAC = 6.5ppm = 260nmol/L
1.75 mmol/L : 0.14 BAC = 7ppm = 280nmol/L
1.875 mmol/L : 0.15 BAC = 7.5ppm = 300nmol/L
2.0 mmol/L : 0.16 BAC = 8ppm = 320nmol/L
2.125 mmol/L : 0.17 BAC = 8.5ppm = 340nmol/L
2.25 mmol/L : 0.18 BAC = 9ppm = 360nmol/L
2.375 mmol/L : 0.19 BAC = 9.5ppm = 380nmol/L
2.5 mmol/L : 0.20 BAC = 10ppm = 400nmol/L
2.625 mmol/L : 0.21 BAC = 10.5ppm = 420nmol/L
2.75 mmol/L : 0.22 BAC =11ppm = 440nmol/L
2.875 mmol/L : 0.23 BAC = 11.5ppm = 460nmol/L
3.0 mmol/L : 0.24 BAC = 12ppm = 480nmol/L

Acetone/ketones in your breath (New Ketonix):
BLUE : 0 - 4 PPM : Low
GREEN : 4 - 30 PPM : Nutritional Range
YELLOW : 30 - 80 PPM : High Ketosis
RED : above 80 PPM : Very High Ketosis

Acetone/ketones in your breath (Old Ketonix):
Blue - : 0-150 nmol/L : none or trace
Green - : 150-400 nmol/L : low
Yellow - : 400-930 nmol/L : medium
Red - : 930+ nmol/L : high

Acetone/ketones in your breath (Old Ketonix):
Blue - : 0 – 5 ppm : none or trace
Green - : 5 – 10 ppm : low
Yellow - :10 – 20 ppm : medium
Red - : 0 – 40 ppm : high

  • Remember only in a perfect world does everything work perfectly!

Thank you Everyone Enjoy :grinning:

(3c6f21097d06511a9e23) #590

Dan dan, I’m a bit slow or overwhelmed by all your excellent data.

This morning I blew 0.04 on my cheap breathalyser, blood ketones measured 1.1mmol.
Is this line in your data same/closest blood ketone level?
1.0 mmol/L : 0.08 BAC = 4ppm = 160nmol/L
Not sure whether Im reading your post correctly?
\v/

(Dan Dan) #591

Yes, but keep in mind that a home test of blood or breath will not be as accurate as in lab under strict controls. I have 3 cheap breathalyzers 2 test exactly the same but one tests lower :thinking:
What I find encouraging is that the cheap breathalyzer seem to test as good as the more expensive ketonix but a fraction of the cost.

(3c6f21097d06511a9e23) #592

So am I correct in believing that as long as I read something on the breathalyser, Im burning ketones as some waste is detected as acetone in breath. Regardless of reading?

(Dan Dan) #593

Yes :smile:

(3c6f21097d06511a9e23) #594

Cool, many thanks, even I can understand that reply :sunglasses:
\v/

#595

Just been scrolling through this thread. I have both of these testers. I have found the cheper tester will show lower levels of acetone, the dearer one won’t register. When I am further into ketosis the dearer one kicks in and shows a higher reading than the cheap one. At least it shows whether or not I’m in. I have tested both with alcohol, just for research of course, and they work fine.

(Kimberly O) #597

I get 1.4 after fasting for 2 days. 20180129_072240|374x500

(Christine Erickson) #598

Thanks for this detailed explanation. I ended up buying the House of Keto breath monitor which basically seems like a breathalyzer. It seems to work fine and way cheaper than the ketonix.

(Brian Jones) #599

What a fantastic post. As a nerd and fan of numbers this post was a wealth of information and I learned a great deal. I’ve never used a breathalyzer to test for acetone as a predictor/consequence of being in Ketosis, but now I plan to.

Thanks to all who contributed I can’t wait to add this tool to my arsenal.

#600

Great post. I got a cheap Keychain breathalyzer and performed the measurement: 0.05 BAC.

My doubt now is how to interpret the result, since I have read in the posts contradicting information:
Option 1, based on direct comparison to blood test: “0.05% BAC, 1.2 +/- 0.3 mmol/L”
Option 2, based on studies: “0.625 mmol/L : 0.05 BAC = 2.5ppm = 100nmol/L”
I tend to think that Option 1 should be correct, since there is a direct comparison to blood test.

Which interpretation is the correct one? Since, one of the them indicates twice as high ketone level as the other.

Thank you in advance!

(Dan Dan) #601

Its measuring two different things but there is a strong correlation under strict controlled studies.

its a good cheap way to check if you are in ketosis and track trends.

The Ketonix has the same issues but is a lot more expensive.

I spent a few dollars and can check quickly and painlessly as often as I want :grin:

(Vincent Hall) #602

I had same question.
Basically if the blow shows any figure then you’re using ketones. The amount you produce or use shouldn’t be the main focus. My meter generally shows between 0. 04 to 0. 05 daily. Doesn’t make much difference IFA I have 15 net carbs day before or 30 for me.
Blood ketones do change a little but generally I’m between 0. 8 to 3 depending on fasting length previous day. I’m on OMAD through the week usually so 22hrs or so.
\v/

(SleepyMotherOf3 🇬🇧) #603

Interesting article on breath acetone