ID 280 - Selen

PL: Selen
EN: Selen
Pdf: selenium

Oświadczenie (2)

1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika

The food constituent that is the subject of the health claims is selenium, which is a well recognised nutrient and is measurable in foods by established methods.
Selenium occurs naturally in foods and is authorised for addition to foods and for use in food supplements (Annex I of the Regulation (EC) No 1925/20064 and Annex I of Directive 2002/46/EC5). This evaluation applies to selenium naturally present in foods and to 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, selenium, which is the subject of the health claims is sufficiently characterised.

2.4. Funkcjonowanie serca i naczyń krwionośnych (ID 280)

The claimed effects are “normal cardiovascular function” and “cardiovascular health”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
Cardiovascular health has not been defined in the consolidated list and is interpreted by the Panel as function of the heart and blood vessels in order to allow a scientific evaluation.
The Panel considers that normal function of the heart and blood vessels is beneficial to human health.

3. Naukowe uzasadnienia wpływu na zdrowie człowieka - 

Selenium is an essential trace element. Twenty-five selenoprotein genes have been identified in the human genome (Kryukov et al., 2003). Selenoproteins have a number of functions, comprising various catalytic roles (glutathione peroxidases, thioredoxin reductases, and iodothyronine
deiodinases), structural roles, detoxifying functions (e.g. selenoprotein P) and storage and transport activities. Selenium is present in foods mainly as selenomethionine and selenocysteine. It is absorbed efficiently by the intestine over a wide range of concentrations and across a variety of different molecular forms (Bates, 2005).

3.4. Funkcjonowanie serca i naczyń krwionośnych (ID 280)

A total of nine references were provided in the consolidated list to support this claim. These included six reviews, one opinion from a scientific body, one textbook and one human study.
Selenium deficiency has been found to play a role in Keshan disease, an endemic cardiomyopathy, postulated to have a mutated coxsackie B virus also as part of its aetiology and which particularly affects children and women of child-bearing age in China. The acute form is characterised by sudden onset of insufficient heart function, whereas patients with chronic disease exhibit moderate to severe heart enlargement with varying degrees of heart insufficiency (Burk and Levander, 2006). However, selenium supplements were not able to restore the ultrastructural changes in the myocardium of latent Keshan disease patients and new latent and naturally-occurring chronic cases were found in the endemic area even after selenium status had been elevated. Thus, selenium might be a conditional predisposing factor for the occurrence of Keshan disease (Xu et al., 1997).
Flores-Mateo et al. (2006) performed a meta-analysis on the association of selenium biomarkers with coronary heart disease endpoints and reported that few randomised trials have addressed the cardiovascular efficacy of selenium supplementation, and, moreover, that the findings from these trials are inconclusive.
The Panel concludes that the evidence provided is insufficient to establish a cause and effect relationship between the dietary intake of selenium and normal function of the heart and blood vessels.

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 selenium 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) have been established as 300 µg/day for adults and for pregnant and lactating woman. For children and adolescents UL were established as 60 µg/day for 1-3 years, 90 µg/day for 4-6 years, 130 µg/day for 7-10 years, 200 µg/day for 11-14 years and 250 µg/day for 15-17 years (SCF, 2000).

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