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Updated: Sep 30, 2026

Fast and Accurate Exhaled Breath Ammonia Measurement
Published on: June 11, 2014
Inhaled salbutamol decreases blood ammonia levels during exercise in normal subjects
D Matthys1, P Calders, J L Pannier
1Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Gent, Belgium.
Abstract:
The present study examines the effect of salbutamol, a beta2-adrenoreceptor agonist, on blood ammonia levels during an incremental cycle exercise test in healthy non-asthmatic subjects. Blood ammonia levels were lower after inhalation of 400 mcg of salbutamol than after placebo during submaximal exercise: 33+/-2 micromol x l(-1) v.s. 48+/-9 micromol x l(-1) at 220 W and 39+/-2 micromol x l(-1) v.s. 50+/-4 micromol x l(-1) at 260 W. At peak exercise there were no significant differences. The results suggest that beta2-adrenoreceptors are involved in the regulation of blood ammonia during exercise.
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