Determination of Some Sex Hormones in Health Supplements by Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry
TLDR The method detected sex hormones in some health supplements, with one containing banned testosterone.
In the study, a method using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed to detect the presence of sex hormones—progesterone (PG), testosterone (TS), and 17β-estradiol (E2)—in health supplements. The method involved a Symmetry C18 reversed-phase chromatography column and a specific mobile phase system, with mass spectrometry conditions set to positive ionization mode. The quantification limits were established at 0.4 mg/kg for PG and TS, and 4 mg/kg for E2. This method was then applied to 16 health supplement samples from pharmacies in Hanoi, Vietnam, and online sources. Out of these, three samples tested positive for sex hormones, with one containing testosterone at a concentration of 0.5 mg/kg, despite its ban in health supplements.
