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Detection and quantification of Sildenafil and Tadalafil in dietary supplements marketed as natural sexual enhancers in Bosnia and Herzegovina

E. Omeragić, Lejla Jesenković-Habul, Belma Imamović, Mirza Dedić, A. Turalić, E. Bečić

Central European Journal of Public Health, 2025

Abstract

OBJECTIVES

The primary aim of this study is to detect and quantify the presence of Sildenafil (SDF) and Tadalafil (TDF) in dietary supplements marketed as natural sexual enhancers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Additionally, the study seeks to utilize these findings to inform relevant authorities, enabling further testing in reference laboratories and prompting the necessary actions to remove these adulterated products from the market.

METHODS

Using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD), 20 samples were analysed for the PDE-5 inhibitors.

RESULTS

The analysis revealed that seven of the samples contained either SDF or TDF, with mean concentrations ± standard deviation (SD) ranging from 2,075.57 ± 0.47 µg/g to 33,808.857 ± 99.43 µg/g, and TDF concentrations ranging from 24.16 ± 0.11 µg/g to 3,994.66 ± 6.95 µg/g.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate a significant health risk posed by the adulteration of these products. The widespread presence of these active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in products falsely labelled as natural underscores the urgent need for stringent regulatory oversight and enhanced quality control measures to protect consumer safety. This study adds to the growing body of evidence concerning the adulteration of dietary supplements and emphasizes the critical importance of regulatory compliance and monitoring in safeguarding public health.

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