Safety and quality assessment of 175 illegal sexual enhancement products seized in red-light districts in Singapore.
BACKGROUND
In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the use of herbs and supplements as an alternative to drugs used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, in order to enhance sexual performance. Over the years, adverse events associated with the consumption of natural health products for sexual enhancement and the treatment of erectile dysfunction have been reported.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this work was to assess the safety and quality of 175 sexual enhancement health products seized from makeshift stalls in red-light districts of Singapore.


METHODS
Seven raids were conducted by the Health Sciences Authority, Singapore, in two red-light districts in February and March 2008. 175 sexual enhancement health products seized from makeshift stalls were extracted with methanol and screened for Western drug adulterants using high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The labels and claims of the products were also evaluated.


RESULTS
Of the 175 products evaluated, 134 (77%) were found to be adulterated with Western drugs or their analogues. Most of these 134 samples (123 [92%]) were found to be adulterated with sildenafil. The extent of adulteration of these illegal health products with Western drugs, including synthetic phosphodiesterase type 5 enzyme (PDE-5) inhibitors, and the risks of consuming such illegal sexual enhancement products are discussed in this study. Because of the scope of the raids, sildenafil was the most common adulterant found. In addition, some products were found to contain high contents of sildenafil (>100 mg) and high contents of the antidiabetic drug, glibenclamide (glyburide). The resultant severe hypoglycaemia has led to ten fatalities.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of Western drug adulterants and their analogues in illegal sexual enhancement products seized from red-light districts in Singapore, and their often misleading labels and claims, put the health of consumers at risk. To safeguard public health, greater public awareness of the danger of consuming such illegal products and the lack of quality control of these illegal sexual enhancement health products is important.
Low
Min-Yong
MY
Applied Sciences Group, Pharmaceutical Division, Health Sciences Authority, Singapore.
Zeng
Yun
Y
Li
Lin
L
Ge
Xiao-Wei
XW
Lee
Ruth
R
Bloodworth
Bosco-Chen
BC
Koh
Hwee-Ling
HL
D004340:Drug Contamination; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005905:Glyburide / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D008297:Male; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000592:standards; D011687:Purines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D018570:Risk Assessment; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D012846:Singapore; D013450:Sulfones / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000592:standards
D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D005905:Glyburide