Dietary supplements are food products commonly used worldwide to obtain nutritional and physiological effects. They can contain a wide variety of active substances and can be administered for health and disease. Their use can be beneficial if justified, and their quality is adequate. Unfortunately, data on the quality of supplements is scarce. As part of this work, we assess the quality of seven dietary supplements containing proline. The preparations were produced in the EU and the USA. The quality assessment consisted of the detection of potential impurities, the determination of the content of the main ingredient, and the release of proline. The technique used to analyse impurities and proline (Pro) content was liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. We detected five contaminants. The main ingredient content was in the range of 73-121% in capsules and 103-156% in tablets. Five of the seven analysed dietary supplements released below 80% Pro (for each tablet/capsule at pH 1.2). One of the supplements may be inactive because a very low release of Pro was reported. The results, we hope, will increase consumer awareness of the quality of these preparations and result in a change in the regulations governing the marketing of these preparations, at least by making release testing mandatory.
Keywords: dietary supplement; dissolution test; food supplement analysis; proline; quality control.