Open AccessValidation and Application of a Methodology for Quantifying Levels of Parabens in Sports Supplements from Brazil Using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Author(s) -
Bruno Alves Rocha,
Cibele Aparecida Cesila,
Airton Martins,
Marília Cristina Oliveira Souza,
Fernando Barbosa
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of the brazilian chemical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.337
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1678-4790
pISSN - 0103-5053
DOI - 10.21577/0103-5053.20210166
Subject(s) - methylparaben , paraben , propylparaben , chromatography , preservative , chemistry , liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry , population , cosmetics , detection limit , food science , mass spectrometry , medicine , environmental health , organic chemistry
Although parabens have been reported to be used as antimicrobial preservatives in personal care products, pharmaceuticals, and foodstuffs, little is known about the occurrence of these compounds in sports supplements. In this study, a simple, fast and sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for simultaneous determination of five commonly used parabens, methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl-, and benzylparaben in sports supplements was established. The analytical method was validated with the values of parameters being acceptable. The method proved reliable, accurate, and sensitive and was successfully applied for the quantitation of parabens in 85 sports supplements samples. Almost all sports supplements contained at least one of the parabens analyzed, and the total concentrations of five parabens ranged from below the limit of quantification to 145 μg g-1, with a median value of 0.171 μg g-1. Ethylparaben and methylparaben were the most frequent paraben analogs found in samples (detection rate > 60%). Propylparaben, butylparaben and benzylparaben are forbidden in food samples, their detection rates were 49.4, 21.2 and 4.7%, respectively. Therefore, our study suggests that Brazilian population may be exposed to estrogenic not allowed parabens and their harmful effects through the intake of sports food supplements.