title: Mycotoxins in Plant-Based Dietary Supplements: Hidden Health Risk for Consumers.
abstract: Mycotoxin contamination of dietary supplements represents a possible risk for human health, especially in the case of products intended for people suffering from certain health conditions. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of this problem based on analyses of a wide set of herbal-based dietary supplements intended for various purposes: (i) treatment of liver diseases (milk thistle); (ii) reduction of menopause effects (red clover, flax seed, and soy); and (iii) preparations for general health support (green barley, nettle, goji berries, yucca, etc.) The analytical method including 57 mycotoxins was based on a QuEChERS-like (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, safe) approach and ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The main mycotoxins determined were Fusarium trichothecenes, zearalenone and enniatins, and Alternaria mycotoxins. Co-occurrence of enniatins, HT-2/T-2 toxins, and Alternaria toxins was observed in many cases. The highest mycotoxin concentrations were found in milk thistle-based supplements (up to 37 mg/kg in the sum).
authors.affiliation: †Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technicka 3, 16628 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Zdenka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Veprikova
authors.affiliation: †Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technicka 3, 16628 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zachariasova
authors.affiliation: †Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technicka 3, 16628 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Zbynek
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dzuman
authors.affiliation: †Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technicka 3, 16628 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Alena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zachariasova
authors.affiliation: †Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technicka 3, 16628 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fenclova
authors.affiliation: †Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technicka 3, 16628 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Slavikova
authors.affiliation: †Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technicka 3, 16628 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaclavikova
authors.affiliation: ‡Covance Laboratories, Nutritional Chemistry and Food Safety, 3301 Kinsman Blvd., Madison, Wisconsin 53704, United States.
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mastovska
authors.affiliation: ‡Covance Laboratories, Nutritional Chemistry and Food Safety, 3301 Kinsman Blvd., Madison, Wisconsin 53704, United States.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hengst
authors.affiliation: †Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technicka 3, 16628 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hajslova
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D047630:Depsipeptides / Q000032:analysis; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry*; D012307:Risk Factors; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D014255:Trichothecenes / Q000032:analysis; D015025:Zearalenone / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D047630:Depsipeptides; D009183:Mycotoxins; D028321:Plant Preparations; D014255:Trichothecenes; C100264:enniatins; D015025:Zearalenone
keywords: dietary supplements; milk thistle; mycotoxins; standard addition method; tandem mass spectrometry; ultraperformance liquid chromatography