The POWER saga from 2007 to 2022: An example of a sexual enhancement dietary supplement tainted by different adulterants and still on the market

Abstract

Ten POWER dietary supplements, chronologically called tabs, pills then caps, and advertised as 100% natural aphrodisiacs, were analyzed by 1H NMR from 2007 to 2022. They were all tainted by PDE-5 inhibitors. Eight different adulterants were identified (sildenafil (1), sildenafil analogues (6), and vardenafil analogue (1)). Their amounts ranged from 15 to 145 mg/capsule. Four supplements contained at least 100 mg/capsule of PDE-5 inhibitor or analogue, the maximal recommended dose of sildenafil. The nature of the adulterant has changed over time, probably to evade its detection by regulatory agencies routine screening tests. Despite several warnings and/or seizures from several European food and/or health authorities, the dietary supplement POWER is still on sale on the Internet, thus demonstrating the impossibility of controlling this market. Faced with this situation, the consumer should be better informed by establishing at the European level a public database of tainted dietary supplements on the model of that of the US Food and Drug Administration. It should indicate the product name, its photo, the adulterant name, and be easily accessible to everyone.