ID 1772 - Kwas gamma-linolenowy

PL: Kwas gamma-linolenowy
EN: Gamma linolenic acid (GLA)
Pdf:

Oświadczenie (2)

1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika

The food constituent that is the subject of the health claim is “gamma-linolenic acid” (hereafter GLA).
GLA is a n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid which is present in small amounts in a variety of foods of both plant and animal origin and which can also be synthesised in the human body from its precursor linoleic acid (LA). It is found in relatively high abundance in the plant seed oils of evening primrose, blackcurrant, borage and in fungal oil (Fan and Chapkin, 1998). GLA can be measured in foods by established methods. This evaluation applies to GLA from all sources with appropriate bioavailability under the specified conditions of use.
The Panel considers that the food constituent, gamma-linolenic acid, which is the subject of the health claim, is sufficiently characterised.

2. Znaczenie oświadczenia dla zdrowia człowieka

The claimed effect is “immune health”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
“Immune health” is not sufficiently defined. In the context of the proposed wording, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to “reducing inflammatory reactions”.
The Panel considers that under certain circumstances the reduction of inflammation might be beneficial to human health.

3. Naukowe uzasadnienia wpływu na zdrowie człowieka - Ograniczenie stanu zapalnego

Four references were cited to substantiate the claimed effect.
The references include one periodical, information from a company, one review of gamma-linolenic acid studies dated before 1998 and one study on human monocytes from normal healthy volunteers and from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The review summarises data until 1998 on dietary gamma-linolenic acid in human health and nutrition and inflammation. The review covers few studies in healthy human subjects and the authors conclude that “large gaps exist in our present understanding” of GLA functions in relation to inflammation (Fan and Chapkin, 1998). The Panel notes that the review does not support the claimed effect of GLA on reduction of inflammation.
A study using monocytes from healthy human volunteers and from patients with rheumatoid arthritis provides information on the reduction of inflammatory markers by gamma-linolenic acid (Furse et al., 2001). The Panel notes that the study reviews potential mechanisms involved in down-regulation of inflammatory responses in a specific patient population. The Panel notes that this mechanistic in vitro study provides little evidence to support the claimed effect in the general human population.
The Panel considers that the provided review of gamma-linolenic acid and the mechanistic in vitro study provide little evidence for the claimed effect of GLA on reduction of inflammation.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of gamma-linolenic acid and reduction of inflammation.

Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia

GLA 117- 440 mg / Evening primrose oil – 1,3 -2,6 g / Borage oil – 1-2g