Counterfeiting in Protein Supplement: Spectroscopic and Chromatographic Analysis

Proteins contain amino acids, which are extremely important for healthy growth, muscle mass production, and improved quality of life. As a result, consumers' intake of insufficient amounts of protein, leads to a deterioration in body resistance, becoming vulnerable to diseases, muscle mass loss, and experiencing many adverse health conditions. It is more commonly used by athletes, particularly to enhance and speed up weight gain, and it is crucial for kids, the elderly, and patients who need to replace absent nutrients in their diet. As more people use protein powder supplements, sales are becoming more competitive, and numerous unauthorized producers have begun providing products that meet the need. Many protein supplements on the market are adulterated or contain undisclosed, inexpensive chemicals, causing discrepancies between labeled and actual amounts of active compounds, which is a growing issue. These include substances like rice, soybeans, urea, cheaper amino acids (e.g. L-glutamine and L-taurine), bulking agents like maltodextrin and cyanuric acid and, in some cases, even dilution with milk powder or melamine. It may be able to better regulate athletes' and patients' exposure to illegal substances and adulteration, safeguard the health of consumers by developing quick and precise ways to test protein supplements. This comprehensive review presents a variety of analytical approaches utilizing spectroscopic and chromatographic methods for the identification of additives for quality control and content verification purposes.