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

ketonix
acetone
breath
(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

(Dan Dan) #604

Thank you @Sleepymotherof3 :grin:

Summary

So, breath acetone is more of a measure of ketones ready to be used by your body while BHB(blood) is more of a measure of ketones being stored for later use.

So ideally we want to see:

Higher breath acetone, lower blood glucose levels, and blood ketone values of maybe greater than 0.2 mmol/L (they’re not really a big deal unless you specifically require high levels of blood ketones to feed your brain in conditions such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s).

#605

Thank you for your reply. I understand that breathalyzer and blood test are measuring different things, being correlated both measurements (as you indicated in your post, based on that study).

At the same time, it was a little confusing that BAC levels indicated by other contributions were correlating to a blood ketone level twice as high as the study refers. I think that there was a substantial difference to bring up the topic for discussion.

From the latest reply (by 1964Hall Vincent Hall ), it looks like the breathalyzer should be considered by far less accurate and we can just know whether we are in ketosis or not, but not rely on the precise reported value. In the lab controlled environment, probably the BAC level reported were more reliable and the mapping to blood ketones also more reliable.
Do you guys agree?
If so, my take away would be that BAC reported around 0.04-0.05 probably correlates to a value in the range 0.5-3 mmol/L. I consider 0.5 as low limit by reading the study results and the high limit based on 1964Hall Vincent Hall’s post.

Please share your view.

Cheers!

(Dan Dan) #606

it can only be compared to itself and used to track trends same as the ketonix :grinning:

#607

Thanks again Dan_Dan for the great contributions.

I will keep monitoring the ketosis levels with the breathalyzer, the idea would be to maintain those 0.04-0.06 BAC, which would mean that the ketosis status is somehow okish :).

And, of course, tracking this excellent thread!

(Trish) #608

I bought the other day. $15 Amazon. So it shows me as .04/.4 upon arising in the a.m. And .02/.2 in the afternoon after I’d eaten. My family all register 0.
So I was wondering about roadside police breathalizer and was at the fights last night so since there are cops there I thought I’d be brazen and ask. Offericer said he’s never heard of an instance where someone blew solely due to diet, and feels a court challenge like that would have spread news wise, but said it was a good question and gave me his card to call him Monday as he will check into it further.
In ontario you cannot refuse a roadside breathalizer, but he said if you blow over they take you to the station and do a second test on a more “advanced” machine than the portable roadside. The whole concept of police breath tests now both intrigues and scares me lol. I will report back after I’ve gotten more info from the officer.