ID 296 - Cynk

PL: Cynk
EN: Zink
Pdf: zinc

Oświadczenie (4)

Oświadczenie (2)

1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika

The food constituent that is the subject of the claims is zinc, which is a well recognized nutrient and is measurable in foods by established methods. Zinc occurs naturally in foods and is authorised for addition to foods (Annex I of the Regulation (EC) No 1925/20064 and Annex I of Directive 2002/46/EC5). This evaluation applies to zinc naturally present in foods and those forms authorised for addition to foods (Annex II of the Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 and Annex II of Directive 2002/46/EC).
The Panel considers that the food constituent, zinc, which is the subject of the health claims, is sufficiently characterised.

2.5. Funkcje poznawcze (ID 296)

The claimed effect is “mental performance (where mental performance stands for those aspects of brain and nerve functions which determine aspects like concentration, learning, memory and reasoning, as well as resistance to stress)”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
The Panel considers that normal cognitive function is beneficial to human health.

3. Naukowe uzasadnienia wpływu na zdrowie człowieka - 

Zinc is present in all tissues. It has essential structural, regulatory or catalytic roles in many enzymes. It maintains the configuration of a number of non-enzymatic proteins such as pre-secretory granules of insulin, some mammalian gene transcription proteins and thymulin. It facilitates hormone and receptor binding at membrane and nuclear levels, and it may maintain integrity of biomembranes. Consequently zinc participates in gene expression and in the mechanisms and control of major metabolic pathways involving proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids and lipids (SCF, 1993; DoH, 1991). Human zinc deficiency symptoms include retarded growth, depressed immune function, skin lesions, skeletal abnormalities, impaired reproductive ability and behavioural abnormalities such as changes in mood, loss of affect and emotional lability, anorexia, dysfunction of smell and taste, irritability and depression (SCF, 2003; EVM, 2002, Cousins, 2006).

3.5. Funkcje poznawcze (ID 296)

A total of 27 references were cited for the substantiation of the claimed effect. One of these, Maylor et al. (2006), studied the effects of zinc supplementation on cognitive function in healthy middle-aged and older adults. The study was a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled design (n=387) with healthy adults between 55 and 87 years. Zinc supplementation (0, 15 or 30 mg/day) were administered for 6 months. The Automated Neuropsychological Test Battery was performed at 0, 3 and 6 months. Younger adults (<70 years) performed significantly better on all tests than older adults (>70 years), and performance improved with practice on some measures. For two out of eight dependent variables, there were significant interactions indicating a beneficial effect (at 3 months only) of both 15 and 30 mg/day on one measure of spatial working memory and a detrimental effect of 15 mg/day on one measure of attention.
Evidence for improved cognitive function among school-aged children has been derived from studies of urban and rural children in China. In the rural population of children, the positive effect of zinc on cognitive function was dependent on the provision of other supplemental micronutrients, while in the urban group, supplemental zinc had a positive effect that was independent of the provision of other micronutrients (Hotz, 2006).
In the central nervous system zinc has a role as a neurosecretory product or cofactor, and is highly concentrated in the synaptic vesicles of specific neurons, called zinc containing neurons. Zinc-containing neurons are a subset of glutamatergic neurons (Frederickson, 2000).
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the dietary intake of zinc and normal cognitive function. However, the evidence provided does not establish that inadequate intake of zinc leading to impaired cognitive function occurs in the general EU population.

4.5. Funkcje poznawcze (ID 296)

The Panel considers that the following wording reflects the scientific evidence: “Zinc contributes to normal cognitive function”.

5. Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia

The Panel considers that in order to bear the claim a food should be at least a source of zinc as per Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. The target population is the general population. Such amounts can be easily consumed as part of a balanced diet. Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL) have been established for zinc as 25 mg/day in adults and to pregnant and lactating woman. For children and adolescents UL was established as 7 mg/day for 1-3 years, 10 mg/day for 4-6 years, 13 mg/day for 7-10 years, 18 mg/day for 11-14 years and 22 mg/day for 15-17 years (SCF 2003).

Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia

Must at least be a source of mineral/s as per annex to regulation 1924/2006