Determination of some sex hormones in health supplements by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

The trend of using dietary supplements in daily life is increasingly popular. However, sex hormones are illegally mixed to improve product effectiveness such as promoting hair growth, developing chest muscles, preventing skin aging, promoting growth, etc. In this study, a liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and applied to quantify sex hormones: progesterone (PG), testosterone (TS), and 17β-estradiol (E2) in health supplements. A Symmetry C18 reversed-phase chromatography column (150 mm x 3.0 mm x 3.5 μm) using a mobile phase system consisting of A: 10 mM HCOONH4/0.1% HCOOH, B: ACN was used.  Mass spectrometry conditions were set at positive ionization mode, precursor ion and two corresponding daughter ions were selected for each analyte. Quantification limits of PG and TS were 0.4 mg/kg and E2 was 4 mg/kg in liquid matrix, hard and soft capsules. The validated method was applied to detect sex hormones in 16 health supplement samples purchased at pharmacies in Hanoi, Vietnam and some online websites. Three samples were detected to be positive for sex hormones, including one sample containing a sex hormone (testosterone) banned from use in health supplements at a low content (about 0.5 mg/kg).