Impact of extraction solvents on steroid contents determined in beef

Steroid hormone contents in polar and non-polar extracts from beef determined by GC–MS were compared. Polar extraction of beef was carried out with a mixture of methanol–water as usual in steroid analysis. The residue of polar extraction was extracted sequentially with n-hexane and ethyl acetate and were combined to form the non-polar extract. The polar extract as well as the non-polar extract were purified separately by liquid–liquid extraction followed by solid phase extraction. Eight beef samples were analysed for their steroid hormone contents after polar and non-polar extraction. Furthermore, their fat content was determined. Steroid hormone contents in the non-polar extract could not be neglected. Consequently, the usual polar extraction methods for the determination of anabolic steroids are insufficient. Steroid hormone patterns of polar extracts and of non-polar extracts are comparable. A comparison between steroid contents determined by different extraction methods is not possible.