Development and validation of UPLC and LC-MS/MS methods for the simultaneous determination of anti-obesity drugs in foods and dietary supplements.

Recently, the number of the cases in which weight loss products have been sold with illegal adulterants has increased, as awareness of the problems of obesity grows. In this study, we developed simultaneous analysis methods to rapidly and accurately identify ingredients illegally mixed with foods and dietary supplements. Twenty-three anti-obesity drugs in foods and dietary supplements were determined by developed and validated UPLC and LC-MS/MS methods. The UPLC method were validated for the LOD and LOQ in the ranges 0.05–3.0 and 0.2–10.0 μg/mL, respectively. The determination coefficient was over 0.999, precision was 0.99), precision (RSD < 10.7 %), accuracy (94.1–109.1 %), recovery (80.5–113.5 %), and the RSD of stability was <7.8 %. Using the newly developed and validated method, 193 samples were tested, and 55 were found to be adulterated.