ID 1450 - 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.

2.4. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stężenia cholesterolu we krwi i niskiego stężenia białka C-reaktywnego (CRP) (ID 1450)

The claimed effect is “supports a healthy cardiovascular system”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
In the context of the proposed wordings, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect relates to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentration and to the maintenance of low plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP).
Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) carry cholesterol from the liver to peripheral tissues, including the arteries. Elevated LDL-cholesterol, by convention >160mg/dL, may compromise the normal function of the arteries.
CRP is an acute-phase protein whose plasma concentrations increase in response to inflammation.
The Panel considers that the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations is beneficial to human health and that the maintenance of low plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) might be beneficial to human health.

3.4. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stężenia cholesterolu we krwi i niskiego stężenia białka C-reaktywnego (CRP) (ID 1450)

One notification of placing on the market novel foods or novel food ingredients pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 258/97 and two references reporting the results from two human intervention studies were provided to substantiate the claimed effect.
One study investigated the effects of astaxanthin supplementation on lipid peroxidation (not on blood cholesterol concentrations) and is therefore not considered pertinent to substantiate the claimed effect (Karppi et al., 2007). The second reference is only available in summary form and reports data from a study were 15 healthy postmenopausal women were divided into three groups to consume supplements containing different doses of astaxanthin for 8 weeks (Kim and Chyun, 2004). It is unclear from the abstract the dose of astaxanthin consumed by each group daily (the Panel assumed those to be 0.2mg/d, 2mg/d, and 8mg/d, respectively), the number of subjects assigned to each intervention group, and how the assignment was carried out. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol,
and triglycerides were assessed at 4 and 8 weeks of the intervention. HDL-cholesterol concentrations in the 2 mg/d and 8 mg/d groups increased significantly and triglycerides decreased significantly in the 2 mg group after 8 weeks of intervention. Whether these changes were significant as compared to the control group (assumed to be the 0.2mg/d group), or whether any changes in either total or LDL- cholesterol were observed in the intervention groups are compared to controls is not reported.
From the information available, the Panel notes that none of these studies have assessed the effects of astaxanthin intake on plasma concentrations of CRP.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of astaxanthin and the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations or the maintenance of low plasma concentrations of C reactive protein.

Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia

4 – 12 mg dose daily.