Determination of anabolic steroids in dietary supplements by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
Nineteen different dietary supplements, ordered through the internet and intercepted by the Belgian pharmaceutical inspection at the post office, were analyzed by means of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the presence of anabolic steroids. After a methanolic extraction the samples were screened for the presence of 49 compounds. This resulted in almost 60% of the samples being suspected of containing one of these 49 anabolic compounds and being subjected to a confirmatory product ion scan. In all of these suspected samples we were able to confirm at least one anabolic steroid with concentrations between 0.01 and 2.5 mg unit(-1) (unit: one capsule or tablet or for liquids: the prescribed dose). The anabolic steroids that was mostly encountered was testosterone (50%) followed by beta-boldenone (25%). These results once more confirm the dubious reputation of over-the-counter dietary supplements.
Van Poucke
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Ghent University, Department of Bio-analysis, Laboratory for Food Analysis, Harelbekestraat 72, B-9000 Gent, Belgium. Christof.vanpoucke@UGent.be
Detavernier
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Van Cauwenberghe
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Van Peteghem
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D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis*; D004300:Doping in Sports; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D000432:Methanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008956:Models, Chemical; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods*; D013256:Steroids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*; D013607:Tablets
D045930:Anabolic Agents; D013256:Steroids; D013607:Tablets; D000432:Methanol