Prediction of Severity of Liver Disease by a 13C Octanoate Breath Test (OBT)

The OBT was chosen to assess, along with other parameters, liver health in subjects suspected of NAFLD (non alcoholic fatty liver disease). Octanoate is absorbed promptly from the intestinal lumen and transported rapidly to the liver through the portal venous system, enters the hepatic mitochondria independently of the carnitine transport system and undergoes hepatic mitochondrial beta-oxidation which produces acetyl coenzyme A (CoA). Finally, acetyl CoA enters the Krebs cycle and is oxidized by carbon dioxide (CO2). This is a non invasive test that can be performed routinely at every visit to assess disease severity. The subject is connected to a breath analyzer via a nasal cannula for approximately 1 hour, that measures baseline breath and changes in delta over baseline due to metabolization of Octanoate.