ID 17 - Witamina A

PL: Witamina A
EN: Vitamin A
Pdf: vitamin A

Oświadczenie (4)

Oświadczenie (2)

1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika

The food constituent that is the subject of the health claims is vitamin A which is a well recognised nutrient. It is measurable in foods by established methods.
The term vitamin A describes a group of lipid soluble compounds related metabolically to all-trans-retinol. In the diet, vitamin A is found in products of animal origin, as retinyl esters, mainly retinyl palmitate. Other esters (oleate, stearate, myristate), and retinol contribute to the dietary vitamin A intake. Some carotenoids (α- and β-carotenes, β-cryptoxanthine) can be cleaved into retinol, via an enzymatic process in the small intestine. Retinoic acids are considered as the molecular species responsible for all the functions attributed to vitamin A, with the exception of vision, where only retinal is able to exert an action (SCF, 2002).
Different forms of vitamin A are authorised for addition to foods and for use in food supplements (Annex II of the Regulation (EC) No 1925/20064 and Annex II of Directive 2002/46/EC5). This evaluation applies to vitamin A naturally present in foods and those forms authorised for addition to foods and for use in food supplements (Annex II of the Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 and Annex II of Directive 2002/46/EC).
The Panel considers that the food constituent, vitamin A, which is the subject of the health claims is sufficiently characterised.

2.3. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu skóry i błon śluzowych (ID 15, 17)

The claimed effects are “structure and function of the skin and mucous membranes (such as in the lung, intestines, nose, eyes and female reproductive tract)” and “Bone/Teeth/Hair/Skin and Nail health”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
The Panel considers that maintenance of normal skin and mucous membranes is beneficial to human health.

2.5. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu kości (ID 13, 17)

The claimed effects are “bone/teeth/hair/skin and nail health” and “bone growth and development of teeth”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
The Panel considers that maintenance of normal bone is beneficial to human health.

2.6. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu zębów (ID 13, 17)

The claimed effects are “bone/teeth/hair/skin and nail health” and “bone growth and development of teeth”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
The Panel considers that maintenance of normal teeth is beneficial to human health.

2.7. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu włosów (ID 17)

The claimed effect is “bone/teeth/hair/skin and nail health”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
The Panel considers that maintenance of normal hair is beneficial to human health.

2.8. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu paznokci (ID 17)

The claimed effect is “bone/teeth/hair/skin and nail health”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
The Panel considers that maintenance of normal nails is beneficial to human health.

3. Naukowe uzasadnienia wpływu na zdrowie człowieka

It is recognised that vitamin A is important for normal vision, gene expression, reproduction, embryonic development, growth and immune function (IoM, 2001). Vitamin A deficiency signs include impaired dark adaptation, abnormal electroretinograms, follicular hyperkeratosis and lowered blood haemoglobin (SCF, 1992).

3.3. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu skóry i błon śluzowych (ID 15, 17)

Vitamin A is required for the integrity of epithelial cells throughout the body. Retinoic acid, through the activation of retinoic acid and retinoid X receptors in the nucleus, regulates the expression of various genes that encode for structural proteins, enzymes, extracellular matrix proteins, and retinol binding proteins and receptors (IoM, 2001).
The systemic effects of vitamin A deficiency include dryness of the skin (follicular hyperkeratosis), loss of mucus-secreting goblet cells in the trachea and respiratory tract, and a generalised flattening of epithelia (squamous metaplasia, sometimes with keratinisation) throughout the body (Ross, 2005).
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has been established between dietary intake of vitamin A and maintenance of normal skin and mucous membranes. However, the evidence provided does not establish that intake of vitamin A inadequate for the maintenance of normal skin and mucous membranes occurs in the general EU population.

3.5. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu kości (ID 13, 17)

A total of 32 references were cited to substantiate the claimed effect. Some 13 of these were textbooks or opinions from scientific bodies in which the claimed effect was not stated. A further 19 references were related to vitamins other than vitamin A or minerals. The Panel notes that the references cited provided no scientific data that could be used to substantiate the claimed effect.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the dietary intake of vitamin A and maintenance of normal bone.

3.6. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu zębów (ID 13, 17)

A total of 32 references were cited to substantiate the claimed effect. Some 13 were textbooks or opinions from scientific bodies in which the claimed effect was not stated. A further 19 references were related to vitamins other than vitamin A or minerals. The Panel notes that the references cited provided no scientific data that could be used to substantiate the claimed effect.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the dietary intake of vitamin A and maintenance of normal teeth.

3.7. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu włosów (ID 17)

A total of 17 references were cited to substantiate the claimed effect from which 7 were related to vitamins other than vitamin A, 5 were textbooks and 5 were opinions from scientific bodies in which the claimed effect was not stated. The Panel notes that the reference cited provided no scientific data that could be used to substantiate the claimed effect.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the dietary intake of vitamin A and maintenance of normal hair.

3.8. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu paznokci (ID 17)

A total of 17 references were cited to substantiate the claimed effect from which 7 were related to vitamins other than vitamin A, 5 were textbooks and 5 were opinions from scientific bodies in which the claimed effect was not stated. The Panel notes that the reference cited provided no scientific data that could be used to substantiate the claimed effect.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the dietary intake of vitamin A and maintenance of normal nails.

4.3. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu skóry i błon śluzowych (ID 15, 17)

The Panel considers that the following wording reflects the scientific evidence: “Vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal skin and mucous membranes.”

5. Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia

The Panel considers that in order to bear the claims a food should be at least a source of vitamin A as per Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. Such amounts can be easily consumed as part of a balanced diet. The target population is the general population. Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL) for pre-formed vitamin A have been established for children and adults. The Tolerable Upper Intake Level for adults has been set at 3000 µg RE/day (SCF, 2002).

Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia

Must meet minimum requirements for use of the claim "source of [name of vitamin/s] and/or [name of mineral/s}" as per Annex to Regulation 1924/2006. Agency guidance for supplements is that products containing beta-carotene should carry the label advisory