Quality evaluation of berberine food supplements with high-field and compact 1H NMR spectrometers

Due to their health benefits, including regulating blood sugar and lowering cholesterol, berberine food supplements (FS) are widely used by consumers. This study aims to evaluate the quality of such products by proposing a new analytical methodology based on low-field NMR. Eighteen berberine FS were analyzed with both conventional (500 MHz) and benchtop (60 MHz) NMR spectrometers. Three quantitative 60 MHz 1H NMR methodologies were performed to determine berberine contents that were compared to those obtained at 500 MHz considered as reference measurements. To make the recording time of the spectra acquired at low field compatible with the requirements of a routine control, the quantification was carried out using a calibration curve established under conditions of incomplete relaxation of BrB protons. This methodology, applied to a test sample of 15 mg of FS, allowed to accurately measure a minimum quantity of berberine of ≈ 10 mg/capsule or tablet in 15 min. Regarding the FS, their labels are often unclear and/or incomplete for the consumer. Moreover, only 56 % of the FS analyzed actually contain the claimed quantity of berberine. The amounts of active they supply per day are extremely variable with only 39 % of the FS delivering a sufficient dose to achieve a hypoglycemic or hypolipidemic effect (1000–1500 mg/day based on literature data). These results show that health authorities should institute much stricter control and regulation over the production, labeling and marketing of berberine-based FS. [Display omitted] •1H NMR analyses of berberine food supplements for quality control.•Berberine was quantified in 15 min on a benchtop spectrometer.•Only 56 % of formulations contain the claimed quantity of berberine.•Amounts of berberine delivered per day are extremely variable.