Figure 1a: Spectrum of sibutramine at retention time 13.74 min
Figure 1b: Fragmented mass of sibutramine 72 m/z and 114 m/z
Figure 2a: Spectrum of phenolphthalein at retention time 26.14 min
Figure 2b: Fragmented mass of phenolphthalein 225 m/z, 274 m/z and 318 m/z
Country

Cost

(AED/g)
Sibutramine concentration (µg/g)

Phenolphthalein concentration
(ng/g)
USA*
31
1320±439
12.4±4.1
China
15
2846±455
24±4.2
Thailand
15
1928±71
27±1.4
Italy
13
1657±510
16.8±2.8
England
11
2023±994
13.8±1.39
France
7.7
ND
12.9±1.19
Germany
6.5
ND
14.4±2.4
Morocco
6
ND
ND
Lebanon
5
ND
ND
Iran#
2.7
ND
ND

*The most expensive slimming product; # The cheapest slimming product; ND – Nondetectable
The permissible limit for sibutramine by FDA is 15 mg/day and use of phenolphthalein is completely banned.
Table 1: Cost of slimming product and concentration of sibutramine & phenolphthalein in samples from different countries.