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Skin volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can cause body odor or reveal human disease and may result from lipid peroxidation or activity by skin bacteria. We examined the effect of intake of New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) powder for 77 skin VOCs in middle-aged and older adults in a crossover design. Fourteen adults (nine males, age: 55 ± 5 yrs) consumed NZBC powder for 7 days (6 g·day−1 with 138.6 mg anthocyanins). Two hours after the last intake, a passive flux sampler with trapping media was applied in the base of the neck for 1 hour. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for media analysis. Habitual anthocyanin intake was quantified using a food frequency questionnaire. Compared to control (i.e., no intake of NZBC powder), emission of six skin VOCs (i.e., 2-nonenal, acetic acid, 2-hexanone, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, benzaldehyde, allyl methyl sulfide) were lower by more than 25%. Increases were observed for γ-octanolactone (+184%) and γ-decanolactone (+89%). A trend for a decrease for isovaleraldehyde, hexanal, and 2-pentanone, and an increase for heptanoic acid and γ-nonanolactone was observed. There was a significant correlation with daily habitual dietary anthocyanin intake for control values of hexanal and percentage change of γ-octanolactone. NZBC powder can change emanation of some VOCs in human skin. Analysis of skin VOCs following specific polyphenol intake may address the impact of dietary components to affect internal metabolic processes, body odor, and health.

Background: Human skin gas is known as traces of gas emanating from the human skin. Exogenous chemicals such as toluene may be released from the skin surface when absorbed into the body. However, dermal emission of toluene has not been fully determined in relation to inhalation exposure. Objectives: This study aimed to characterise the mechanism of toluene emanating from the skin surface of healthy volunteers in relation to inhalation exposure. Methods: Dermal emission flux of toluene was determined in healthy volunteers employing a passive flux sampler and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results: The dermal emission of toluene occurs when toluene is absorbed by inhalation. The half-life obtained from the decrease in the dermal emission flux suggested the time-course of the dermal emission corresponds to that of the blood concentration. The whole-body emission rate of toluene was estimated to be 9.9% of the uptake rate by inhalation exposure. This suggests the toluene is excreted approximately 80% through urine, 7% - 14% by exhaled air, and 10% from the skin surface. Conclusions: This demonstrates that dermal emission is a newly discovered route of excretion of toluene from the human body and that dermal toluene might indicate the individual biological susceptibility to inhalation exposure to toluene.

OBJECTIVES: Volatile organic compounds (i.e., VOCs) emanating from the human skin are used to detect disease biomarkers and causes of body odour. Seven-day intake of New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) powder reduced skin emission of 2-nonenal, a lipid peroxidation compound responsible for body odour in older adults. Anthocyanin-induced bioavailability of plasma metabolites by intake of NZBC may affect the production of VOCs. In the present study, we examined the effect of 7-day NZBC powder intake on the skin emission of 76 VOCs. METHODS: Fourteen Caucasian adults (9 males, age: 55 ± 5 yr) volunteered. Participants consumed NZBC powder for 7 days (Sujon Berries, NZ, 6 g·day(-1) with 138.6 mg anthocyanin, 49 mg Vit C, 5.2 g of carbohydrates and total phenolic content of 271.6 mg per serving). Two hours after the last intake, a passive flux sampler with trapping media (MonoTrap®, DCC18, GL Science, Japan) was applied to the skin in the base of the neck for one hour, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for media analysis (Kimura et al., 2016). Participants did not use hot water or soap for 48 hrs on the skin sampling location. Dietary anthocyanin intake was quantified using a food frequency questionnaire. Data were analysed with paired, two-tailed t-test and effect size (Cohen's d) was calculated. RESULTS: Decreases in skin emission were observed for acetic acid (−57%, P = 0.006, d = −1.26), 2-hexanone (−47%, P = 0.031, d = −0.86), 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (−93%, P = 0.005, d = −1.23), benzaldehyde (−86%, P = 0.004, d = −0.96), allyl methyl sulfide (−35%, P = 0.015, d = −0.98) and increases for γ-octanolactone (+65%, P = 0.023, d = 0.98) and γ-decanolactone (+47%, P = 0.015, d = 1.11). For these VOCs, there was no significant correlation between daily anthocyanin intake and baseline values. A trend for a decrease was observed for isovaleraldehyde, hexanal and 2-pentanone and an increase for heptanoic acid and γ-nonanolactone, all 0.05