ETH Zurich

ETH Zurich breathalyser tracks fat metabolism globally

ETH Zurich researchers have developed a handheld, smartphone-assisted breathalyzer that measures acetone to monitor fat metabolism within about 90 seconds, with laboratory-level accuracy validated against mass spectrometry across 312 breath samples from 12 adults. The Nutrion device aims for at-home monitoring to tailor diets and metabolic therapies for obesity, diabetes, epilepsy, and related conditions, potentially reducing reliance on blood tests and enabling personalized treatment across different metabolic scenarios.