ID 1448 - Astaksantyna

PL: Astaksantyna
EN: Astaxanthin
Pdf: astaxanthin

Oświadczenie (2)

1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika

The food constituent that is the subject of the health claim is astaxanthin, which is a red (non- provitamin A) oxygenated carotenoid found in phytoplankton and is responsible for the colour of certain fish (e.g. salmon) and shellfish (e.g. crab).
Astaxanthin is measurable in foods by established methods. Astaxanthin occurs naturally in foods and also in synthetic forms as free form or as esters. Astaxanthin is absorbed into the bloodstream as the free form and bioavailability can be enhanced in lipid matrices. This evaluation applies to astaxanthin naturally present in foods and to those forms authorised for addition to foods.
The Panel considers that the food constituent, astaxanthin, which is the subject of the health claim is sufficiently characterised.

2.3. Utrzymanie prawidłowej ostrości wzroku (ID 1448)

The claimed effect is “beneficial for eye health”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
In the context of the proposed wording, the Panel notes that the claimed effect relates to the maintenance of visual acuity.
The Panel considers that maintenance of normal visual acuity is beneficial to human health.

3.3. Utrzymanie prawidłowej ostrości wzroku (ID 1448)

One notification of placing on the market novel foods or novel food ingredients pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 258/97 and four scientific references were provided to substantiate the claimed effect. Three were human intervention studies with astaxanthin and one was a mechanistic study indicating that carotenoids including astaxanthin were singlet oxygen quenchers in marine organisms (Shimidzu et al., 1996).
In a one-arm study (Takahashi and Kajita, 2005), nine volunteers consumed 6 mg/d of astaxanthin (from Astarioil, a product derived from Haematococcus) for 14 days and were evaluated by ophthalmological examination before and after the intervention. The examination was based on the Objective Diopter Value reading, the Accommodative Reaction Volume and the average value of the High-Frequency Component (HFC) in accommodative micro-fluctuation as well as on subjective measures using questionnaires to evaluate fatigue before and after operating electronic devices. Only the HFC value changed significantly with astaxanthin supplementation; the HCF after operation of the electronic devices decreased at the end of the intervention. The Panel notes the small number of subjects, the uncontrolled nature of the study design, and the limited relevance to the claimed effect of the endpoints measured; all of which limit the conclusions that can be drawn on the role of astaxanthin in supporting visual acuity.
Two small Japanese intervention studies with astaxanthin in humans could be accessed in abstract form only. One was a randomised placebo-controlled intervention study evaluating the effects of astaxanthin on accommodation, critical flicker fusion and pattern visual evoked potential in visual display terminal workers (Nagaki et al., 2002). The other study evaluated the effects of astaxanthin supplementation on visual acuity tests (Sawaki et al., 2002). The Panel notes that for both studies insufficient information was provided in the abstract (full papers in Japanese) for a complete evaluation in relation to the claimed effect.
In weighing the evidence, the Panel took into account the small number of subjects studied, the uncontrolled nature of the study design, and the limited relevance to the claimed effect of the endpoints measured in the only intervention study for which the full text was available.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of astaxanthin and the maintenance of visual acuity.

Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia

4 – 12 mg dose daily.