ID 306 -
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.
2.11. Funkcjonowanie serca i naczyń krwionośnych (ID 306)
The claimed effect is “cardiovascular health”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
Cardiovascular health has not been defined in the list and is interpreted as function of the heart and blood vessels in order to allow a scientific evaluation.
The Panel considers that the normal function of the heart and blood vessels 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).
3.10. Funkcjonowanie serca i naczyń krwionośnych (ID 306)
A total of 5 references were cited for the substantiation of the claimed effect, including three narrative reviews and two human studies. The Panel considers that the reviews, which were very general in nature, did not provide any scientific data that could be used to substantiate the claimed effect.
One human study dealt with erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase activity during exercise (Lukaski, 2005) which is unrelated to the claimed effect. In one cross sectional study Singh et al. (1998) reported an association between a low dietary zinc intake, and low serum zinc concentrations, and an increased prevalence of coronary artery disease in a rural and urban Indian population. The Panel notes that limited conclusions can be drawn from this study on the claimed effect.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the dietary intake of zinc 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 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"
