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Why could urine and exhaled breath be useful for noninvasive metabolomic screening?

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Diagram illustrating metabolism with two sections: anabolic reaction on the left shows energy used to build larger molecules from smaller ones, while catabolic reaction on the right shows larger molecules breaking down into smaller molecules with energy released. — Metabolomics In anabolic reactions, a cell uses energy to combine small molecules into larger molecules. In catabolic reactions, molecules are broken down, and energy is released.

Urine and exhaled breath are valuable for noninvasive metabolomic screening primarily because they offer a practical, low-cost way to monitor large populations for biomarkers associated with various diseases.1

The utility of these methods includes:

Increased Patient Acceptance: Because these sampling methods are noninvasive, they are more likely to be accepted by patients compared to more intrusive procedures, facilitating broader participation in screening programs.1
Rich Metabolic Data: Urinalysis allows for the detection of a vast array of organic and inorganic substances, including metabolic products, hormones, and proteins that can indicate bodily disorders or kidney dysfunction. Nontargeted metabolomics of urine can provide a comprehensive portrait of metabolism, capturing mammalian metabolites, dietary compounds, and products of gut microbial fermentation.23
Disease-Specific Biomarkers: Exhaled breath contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can serve as indicators of health status. For example, the detection of specific VOCs like isoprene is linked to conditions such as diabetes and liver or kidney disease. Similarly, mass spectrometry profiling of urinary catecholamines has long been used to evaluate neuroendocrine tumors.41