High doses of the anabolic steroid metandienone found in dietary supplements

Abstract

Three nutritional supplements with “1‐T matrix” were purchased by telephone order. The supplier of these supplements is a company from the UK, and the manufacturer is from the U.S. Aliquots of 1 g each were analyzed with gas chromatography / mass spectrometry and high pressure liquid chromatography with UV detector. In all supplements analyzed were found the anabolic‐andro‐genic steroid metandienone. Metandienone, only available by prescription, was not declared on the labels. The concentrations of metandienone were 17.30 mg/g, 0.41 mg/g, and 0.96 mg/g for supplements 1, 2, and 3. In supplement 1, the concentrations of metandienone varied from capsule to capsule. Maximum concentrations of metandienone of 28.9 mg/g were detected. In addition to enormous health risks, the use of the analyzed supplements can lead to positive doping results for metandienone. The results of this study show that it is of major importance to improve the surveillance of the production and trade of dietary supplements. The first step should be a warning to be issued to consumers and the withdrawal of dietary supplements containing prescription drugs.