ID 1686 - Astaksantyna

PL: Astaksantyna
EN: Astaxanthin
Pdf: astaxanthin

1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika

The food constituent that is the subject of the health claims is astaxanthin.
Astaxanthin 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 occurs naturally in foods and also in synthetic forms as free astaxanthin or in the form of esters. Astaxanthin is absorbed into the bloodstream as the free form, and bioavailability can be enhanced in lipid matrices. Astaxanthin is measurable in foods by established methods.
The Panel considers that the food constituent, astaxanthin, which is the subject of the health claims, is sufficiently characterised.

2.2. Ochrona przed Helicobacter pylori (ID 1686)

The claimed effect is “gut health: influence on Helicobacter pylori infection”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
Influence on Helicobacter pylori infection could be interpreted as defence against Helicobacter pylori.
The Panel considers that defence against Helicobacter pylori is a beneficial physiological effect.

3.2. Ochrona przed Helicobacter pylori (ID 1686)

Among the references provided for the scientific substantiation of the claim were animal and human intervention studies which addressed health outcomes (i.e. markers of oxidative stress in patients with reflux oesophagitis before and after anti-reflux surgery; experimental gastritis, oesophagitis, gastric ulcers in mice, rat and guinea pig models) unrelated to the claimed effect, and one human intervention study which was not accessible to the Panel after every reasonable effort had been made to retrieve it.
Kupcinskas et al. (2008), in a placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind study, evaluated the effect of astaxanthin (16 or 40 mg/day) given for four weeks on gastrointestinal discomfort assessed with the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale questionnaire and the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire. The Panel notes that the effect of astaxanthin on Helicobacter pylori infection was not addressed in this study.
The animal studies provided evaluated the effect of astaxanthin on the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. The Panel considers that evidence provided in animal studies is not sufficient to predict the occurrence of an effect of astaxanthin consumption on defence against Helicobacter pylori infection in humans.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of astaxanthin and defence against Helicobacter pylori.

Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia

Daglig dos 4-40 mg astaxanthin per dag. Dosering om mer än 20 mg astaxanthin per dag under högst 4 veckor i följd. Effekt uppnås vid regelbunden användning efter 1-2 veckor.