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.