ID 228 -
Wapń
PL: Wapń
EN: Calcium
Pdf: calcium
1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika
The food constituent that is the subject of the health claims is calcium, which is a well recognised nutrient and is measurable in foods by established methods. Calcium occurs naturally in foods in many forms which are generally well utilised by the body. Different forms of calcium are authorised for addition to foods and for use in food supplements (Annex II of the Regulation (EC) No 1925/20066 and Annex II of Directive 2002/46/EC7). This evaluation applies to calcium 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, calcium, which is the subject of the health claims, is sufficiently characterised.
2.9. Udział w utrzymaniu lub osiągnięciu prawidłowej masy ciała (ID 228, 229)
The claimed effect is “weight management”. The Panel assumes that the target group is the general population.
Weight management can be interpreted as the contribution to the maintenance of a normal body weight. In this context weight loss in overweight subjects without achieving a normal body weight is considered to be a beneficial physiological effect.
The Panel considers that contribution to the maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight is a beneficial physiological effect.
3. Naukowe uzasadnienia wpływu na zdrowie człowieka -
More than 99 % of the total calcium in the body is located in bones and teeth and contributes to their mass, structure and strength. Besides this structural role, calcium acts as an intracellular messenger and as a cofactor for extracellular enzymes and proteins. Overt, symptomatic calcium deficiencies are almost nonexistent given the large skeletal reserves, although inadequate calcium intakes have been associated with a higher risk of bone fractures (IoM, 1997, Weaver and Heaney, 2006).
3.7. Udział w utrzymaniu lub osiągnięciu prawidłowej masy ciała (ID 228, 229)
The literature provided includes mechanistic studies, opinions from authoritative bodies, (systematic) reviews, original research papers of observational epidemiological studies, and randomised clinical trials (RCT) on the effects of calcium intake on body weight control.
In addition, the Panel has identified five other references pertinent to the claimed effect (Winzenberg et al., 2007; Lorenzen et al., 2006; van Loan, et al. 2009; Bortolotti, et al 2008; Christensen et al., 2009).
Most of the individual studies presented have been included in two systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials (RCT) which investigated the effects of calcium intake on body weight (Winzenberg et al., 2007; Trowman et al., 2006). Four of the most recent RCTs presented were not included in these reviews (Lorenzen et al., 2006; Thompson et al., 2005; Bowen et al., 2005; Gunther et al., 2005)
A systematic review and subsequent meta-analysis of 13 RCT on the effects of calcium supplementation on body weight (including papers published up to 2004 mostly on adult females) concluded that calcium supplementation has no statistically significant association with a reduction in body weight (Trowman et al., 2006). Another systematic review of 19 RCT on the effects of calcium supplementation in healthy children concluded that calcium supplements do not affect weight gain, height or body composition (Winzenberg et al., 2007). Some recently published randomised clinical trials on the effect of calcium on body weight also show no beneficial effects of calcium intake on body weight control, either following calcium supplementation (Lorenzen et al., 2006) or by increasing calcium intake from dairy products (Thompson et al., 2005; Bowen et al., 2005; Gunther et al., 2005).
A recent review (van Loan, 2009) suggests that human observational retrospective, cross-sectional and prospective studies support the idea that dietary calcium is associated with body weight control. However, a causal relationship cannot be inferred from these studies as the observed relationships in human observational studies between dietary calcium and body weight control may be confounded by other dietary components and/or by life style factors related to calcium intake.
The suggested mechanisms for an effect of calcium intake on body weight control are an increase in fat oxidation, inhibition of lipogenesis, and/or an increased fat excretion (Astrup, 2008). However, in a well controlled study by Bortolotti et al. (2008) dairy calcium supplementation in overweight subjects with habitual low calcium intakes failed to alter fat metabolism. In addition, a recently published meta-analysis of 13 RCT on the effects of additional calcium intake from dairy and dietary supplements on faecal fat excretion concluded that increasing dietary calcium by 800-6000 mg per day increases fat excretion by about 2 g per day, with no evidence of a dose-response relationship.
However, the relevance of such an effect for the daily energy balance and body-weight regulation is unknown (Christensen et al., 2009).
In weighing the evidence, the Panel took into account that, although epidemiological studies generally observe an inverse relationship between calcium intake and body weight, evidence from a large number of RCTs does not support this hypothesis, and that the evidence for possible mechanisms by which calcium intake could exert an effect on body weight control is not convincing.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the intake of calcium and the contribution to the maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight.
Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia
Must at least be a source of mineral/s as per annex to regulation 1924/2006
