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 β-boldenone (25%). These results once more confirm the dubious reputation of over-the-counter dietary supplements.