ID 1979 -
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.
2.1. Ochrona skóry przed uszkodzeniami wywołanymi promieniami ultrafioletowymi (UV) (ID 1687, 1979)
The claimed effects are “skin health” and “protects skin from UV damage and sun exposure”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
In the context of the proposed wordings, the Panel assumes that the claimed effects refer to the protection of the skin from UV-induced damage (sunburn).
The Panel considers that protection of the skin from UV-induced damage is a beneficial physiological effect.
3.1. Ochrona skóry przed uszkodzeniami wywołanymi promieniami ultrafioletowymi (UV) (ID 1687, 1979)
The references provided included narrative reviews on the effects of carotenoids in general and/or of astaxanthin on different health outcomes, including protection of the skin from UV-induced damage, which did not provide any original data which could be used for the scientific substantiation of the claim, or human intervention studies on the effects of carotenoids other than astaxanthin. The Panel
considers that no conclusions can be drawn from these references for the scientific substantiation of the claim.
One open label, uncontrolled human intervention study which investigated the effects of astaxanthin consumption (4 mg/day) for two weeks on the minimal erythemal dose in 21 healthy male and female subjects (Cheun et al., year not given) was provided. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from this uncontrolled study for the scientific substantiation of the claim.
A number of animal and in vitro studies reported on the effects of astaxanthin on UV-induced cellular damage to the skin or cultured cells (e.g. cyst cells and fibroblasts). The Panel considers that evidence provided in animal and in vitro studies is not sufficient to predict the occurrence of an effect of astaxanthin consumption on protection of the skin from UV-induced damage in vivo in humans.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of astaxanthin and protection of the skin from UV-induced damage.
Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia
Minimum dose of 4 mg astaxanthin daily.
