Introduced in 1972, the Atkins diet remains a popular, low-carbohydrate weight loss program. The diet severely restricts your carbohydrate intake to force your body to break down fat to generate energy. The breakdown of fat releases substances called ketone bodies into your bloodstream. One type of ketone, acetoacetate, spontaneously breaks down further into acetone, which can be smelled on your breath and is considered by many people to be malodorous.
Purpose and Consequence
The objective of the Atkins diet is to force your body to break down fat. When you are eating a normal diet, carbohydrates are the primary fuel for energy production in your muscles, brain and other tissues. The Atkins diet restricts your carbohydrate intake to the point that your body does not have a sufficient supply of carbohydrates to generate the energy needed to function. When carbohydrates are lacking, your metabolism shifts and fat becomes your body's primary fuel to generate energy. This metabolic condition, known as ketosis, is the immediate goal of the prescribed Atkins eating plan. If you have bad breath while on the Atkins diet, it is most likely caused by the fact that you are in ketosis, which advocates of the program state is evidence that the diet is working.
Normal Response
Burning fat as a backup fuel during periods of carbohydrate deprivation is a normal, predictable, adaptive response. From that perspective, being in ketosis is normal, given the dietary restrictions of the Atkins diet. In a May 2004 article published in the "Annals of Internal Medicine," Dr. William Yancy and colleagues report that bad breath from high levels of blood ketones occurs in roughly 40 percent of people on a low-carbohydrate diet.
Concerns
Most people on low-carbohydrate diets, such as the Atkins diet, are able to tolerate being in ketosis without serious, short-term adverse effects. With high levels of blood ketones, you might experience nausea and vomiting. If severe ketosis develops, your blood might become abnormally acidic, which can be a serious medical problem. If you are on the Atkins diet and develop bad breath with nausea or vomiting, drink a glass of orange juice or another high-carbohydrate beverage, which should reverse the ketosis. If your symptoms do not improve, call your doctor. The long-range effects of the Atkins diet remain controversial. Some health care professionals are concerned that the high level of fat consumption promoted by the Atkins diet might increase your risk of heart disease in the long term.
Remedies
You have a few options if you experience bad breath due to ketosis while on the Atkins diet. You can increase your daily carbohydrate intake to cut back on the level of ketones in your bloodstream, which will lessen the amount of acetone expelled in your breath. If you prefer not to alter the diet by increasing your carbohydrate intake, you can try masking the odor with sugar-free breath mints or chewing gum. Be sure to brush your teeth frequently to be sure plaque buildup is not contributing to your breath problem.
References
- "Living the Low-Carb Life"; Jonny Bowden, M.A., C.N.S.; 2004
- "Annals of Internal Medicine"; A Low-Carbohydrate, Ketogenic Diet versus a Low-Fat Diet To Treat Obesity and Hyperlipidemia: A Randomized, Controlled Trial; William S. Yancy, Jr., M.D., M.H.S., et al.; May 2004
- Atkins Diet Alert; Health Advisory; Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Breath Acetone is a Reliable Indicator of Ketosis in Adults Consuming Ketogenic Meals; Kathy Musa-Veloso, Ph.D., et al.; July 2002
- GP Notebook: Ketotic Breath
- "Fitness & Health"; Brian J. Sharkey, Ph.D., Steven E. Gaskill, Ph.D.; 2007
