A Pocket-sized Irish Startup Device Indicates Which Foods Are Bad For Your Gut
A pocket-sized Irish startup's device indicates which foods are bad for your gut
Inflammable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a digestive disorder that affects one out of every ten people worldwide, according to estimates. Constipation, indigestion, and stomach cramps are all symptoms of the disorder.
Although there is no cure for this condition, it can be managed by adopting a healthier lifestyle and eating a more balanced diet. Identifying which foods cause an adverse reaction in an individual, on the other hand, can be a time-consuming and labor-intensive process. According to a 2019 study of six European countries, it costs healthcare systems between €937 ($1,087) and €2,108 ($2,445) per patient per year, depending on the severity of the condition.
That is why Irish engineers Aonghus Shortt and Peter Harte founded FoodMarble, a startup that has developed portable devices measuring the hydrogen content of a person's breath – a critical indicator of digestive disorders – that measure the hydrogen content of a person's breath in a matter of seconds.
"Humans should not be able to produce hydrogen on their breath," explains Harte. A condition known as fermentation occurs when food that was unable to be digested in the small intestine makes its way to the large intestine and is broken down by bacteria in a process known as fermenting. This process results in the release of gases such as hydrogen or methane, which can be uncomfortable or cause bloating if not handled properly.
Following meals, users can test for hydrogen levels using FoodMarble's AIRE device, which was introduced in 2018 and provides real-time feedback on which foods are harmful to their health. Through Bluetooth, the readings are transmitted to the FoodMarble app, which allows users to record and analyze their food intake, as well as identify ingredients that cause symptoms over a period of several weeks.
'Democracy made possible by technology'
The use of hydrogen breath tests to diagnose digestive disorders such as lactose intolerance and, more recently, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth has been documented for many years, according to Harte (SIBO). He does, however, point out that the technology has not been widely available or convenient, necessitating multiple hospital visits for testing on a regular basis, according to him.
"By reducing the size of this, we hope to democratize technology," says the author. "In our clinic, we have a large number of patients who have simply been unable to overcome their difficult circumstances. Our device is simple to use and understand, and it gives them reason to be hopeful."
Research and Markets estimates that the global market for IBS treatments will reach $4 billion by 2028, up from $2 billion in 2020, based on the findings of a report by the market research firm Research and Markets.
FoodMarble has sold 25,000 of its breath sensor devices, and the company has recently begun accepting pre-orders for a new version that includes methane detection as an additional feature. They are available in a variety of colors and are priced between $190 and $260.
It is also aiming for the clinical market with its technology, which is currently being evaluated at Johns Hopkins Medicine in the United States to improve SIBO diagnosis. The company has raised €5.5 million ($6 million) in funding so far. In the opinion of Dr. Pankaj Jay Pasricha, the professor who is supervising the trial, the device has outperformed all other hydrogen breath test methods tested so far.
GI specialist Dr. Tara Troy, who runs the Comprehensive Gastrointestinal Health clinic in Northbrook, Illinois, believes that having a portable and reusable device would be extremely beneficial to both clinicians and patients alike. It appears that FoodMarble is the only company that provides this service to her knowledge — although a few others, such as Vivante Health, do provide a digital platform for monitoring gut health as well.
According to Troy, a medical assistant must take a breath sample every 15 minutes for several hours in a clinical setting, which is both logistically difficult and manpower-intensive. Troy says that conducting breath tests in a clinical setting can be difficult and time-consuming.
It is the fact that it is not a one-time breath analysis that makes the FoodMarble device so appealing, she explains. In order to make more informed judgments and assessments about food sensitivities, an individual could use it multiple times in order to collect a variety of data points.
Patient empowerment should be improved, according to the authors.
Despite this, Troy warns that hydrogen breath tests are not always accurate in diagnosing digestive problems and can occasionally result in false positives and negatives as well. In order to detect more serious conditions such as celiac disease or Crohn's disease, it is essential to supplement these tests with additional tests.
She, on the other hand, believes that they are extremely beneficial in that they provide "objective criteria" for patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.
"I believe that being able to solve problems on their own is extremely empowering for these individuals," Troy says. Patients can experiment with dietary factors using the FoodMarble device, which "provides objective information that assists in confirming that there is a genuine problem... [and] it allows patients to experiment with dietary factors," she continues.
