ID 305 -
Cynk
PL: Cynk
EN: Zink
Pdf: zinc
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.
2.10. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu stawów (ID 305)
The claimed effect is “joint health”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
The Panel notes that joint health relates to maintenance or improvement of joint function.
The Panel considers that maintenance of normal joints 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).
3.9. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu stawów (ID 305)
A total of 23 references were cited for the substantiation of the claimed effect, including three review and background papers, one national food consumption survey and 19 human studies. The Panel considers that the review and background papers, which were very general in nature, and the national food consumption survey, did not provide any scientific data that could be used to substantiate the claimed effect. A number of human studies dealt with zinc interaction with other nutrients, zinc metabolism and homeostasis and zinc status in different age populations. These studies dealt with outcomes unrelated to the claimed effects. The Panel notes, that these references did not provide any scientific data that could be used to substantiate the claimed effect.
The human studies in the diseased population (rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis or osteoarthritis patients) show that serum concentrations of zinc are reduced in some cases. As serum zinc can be influenced by inflammatory conditions this is not an unexpected result (Dore-Duffy et al., 1990; Grennan et al., 1980; Haugen et al., 1992; Helgeland et al., 2000; Helliwell et al., 1984; Honkanen et al., 1991; Naveh et al., 1997; Zoli et al., 1998; Niedermeier and Griggs, 1971). The Panel, moreover, considers that the evidence provided does not establish that patients with rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis or osteoarthritis are representative of the general population with regard to the functional condition of the joints.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the dietary intake of zinc and maintenance of normal joints.
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
3-6 mg of zinc
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.
Agency guidance for supplements is that products containing >25 mg of Zinc should carry the label advisory statement "Long term intake [of this amount of zinc] may lead to anaemia"
