The use of dietary supplements is widespread. Concurrent adulteration of
such products with undeclared pharmaceuticals has been reported quite often,
especially for ‘the big three’, erectile dysfunction, weight-loss, and sports performance
products. But still most consumers are unfamiliar with the problem, posing potentially
serious health consequences. This article highlights the most common synthetic
substances found as adulterants in dietary supplements, describes the analysis and the
difficulties with the scientific assessment, using sexual enhancement products as an
example.
Keywords: Adulteration, Anabolic steroids, Dietary supplement, Doping, Erectile
Dysfunction drugs, Food laws, PDE5 inhibitors, Slimming products, Sildenafil,
Sibutramine, Sexual enhancement products.