ID 1958 -
Tauryna
PL: Tauryna
EN: Taurine
Pdf: taurine
1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika
The food constituent that is the subject of the health claims is taurine (2-amino-ethanesulfonic acid). Taurine is a well recognised nutrient and is measurable in foods by established methods.
Taurine occurs naturally in foods of animal origin and is generally absent from foods of plant origin.
The Panel considers that the food constituent, taurine, which is the subject of the health claims, is sufficiently characterised.
2.6. Opóźnienie wystąpienia zmęczenia podczas ćwiczeń fizycznych (ID 1958)
The claimed effect is “tonus/vitality”. The Panel assumes that the target population is active individuals in the general population.
In the context of the proposed wordings and clarifications provided by Member States, and in the context of the references provided, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to a delay in the onset of physical fatigue during exercise.
The Panel considers that a delay in the onset of physical fatigue during exercise is a beneficial physiological effect.
3. Naukowe uzasadnienia wpływu na zdrowie człowieka
Taurine is synthesised in the body from sulphur containing amino acids, especially from cysteine, by oxidation of the sulphur function and decarboxylation. This last step is rate limiting. Compensatory
mechanisms for dietary taurine deprivation (e.g. in vegans) include alteration of the bile salt glycine/taurine ratio, decrease in whole body taurine turnover and reduction of urinary excretion of taurine (Kendler, 1989). Taurine concentrations in tissues, particularly in the brain, are largely independent of taurine intakes. However, endogenous synthesis and usual consumptions can be insufficient to meet the metabolic needs in certain pathological conditions, so that taurine is considered to be a conditionally indispensable amino acid, particularly in preterm infants (Lourenco and Camilo, 2002).
3.3. Opóźnienie wystąpienia zmęczenia podczas ćwiczeń fizycznych (ID 1958)
The references provided for the substantiation of the claim include two narrative reviews on the health effects of taurine, all unrelated to the claimed effect, and a number of human intervention studies using taurine in combination with other food constituents, including caffeine and glucuronolactone. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from these references for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect.
In one single arm, uncontrolled study (Zhang et al., 2004), the effect of taurine supplementation on exercise time to exhaustion was studied in 11 young men (aged 18-20 years). Subjects performed a bicycle ergometer test (rate of 60 rpm with an increased workload of 20 W/min) until exhaustion. After the first exercise test, subjects received supplemental taurine powder at a daily dose of 6 g (2 g three times a day) for 7 days prior to the second exercise test, which was identical to the first test. Maximal oxygen uptake, the exercise time to exhaustion and maximal workload were assessed after each test. The Panel notes that this study was not controlled, and that the study design does not allow controlling for a possible training effect between the first and second cycling tests. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from this reference for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of taurine and a delay in the onset of physical fatigue during exercise.
Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia
At least 500 mg/day
