Abstract des Autors

Rhodiola rosea is a perennial plant in the Crassulaceae family, which grows primarily on mountains and sea cliffs in the Holarctic area. For centuries, root and rhizome extracts have been used as herbal medicine in Russia, Scandinavia, and Asia, as they are supposed to have both stimulating and adaptogenic effects. A variety of preparations containing Rhodiola extracts are sold worldwide as dietary supplements. As several studies report performance-enhancing effects due to an increased exercise capacity and fatigue resistance, these products are also very attractive for athletes. From 2013 until 2015, different nutritional supplements containing root or rhizome extracts of Rhodiola rosea were tested for the presence of performance-enhancing drugs by means of GC-MS and LC-MS. A total of 14 products was found to contain significant amounts of the endogenous steroids 4-androstene-3,17-dione and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and the pseudoendogenous steroid 1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione. Although the chemical composition of Rhodiola rosea was extensively studied in the past, there is currently no evidence for the occurrence of anabolic androgenic steroids. Consequently, the detection of several (pseudo-) endogenous steroids in dietary supplements demonstrates that the use of nutritional supplements by athletes remains a concern as preparations of dubious quality or unknown composition can potentially lead to positive results in doping tests.