ID 3158 -
Kwas liponowy
PL: Kwas liponowy
EN: Alpha Lipoic acid (ALA)
Pdf: alpha-lipoic acid
1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika
The food constituent that is the subject of the health claims is alpha-lipoic acid.
alpha-Lipoic acid, also known as thioctic acid, is a non-essential sulphur-containing food constituent, present in foods, generally bound to protein (lipoyllysine), at very low concentrations (around 0.3 mg/100 g for the richest natural sources, i.e. spinach for vegetables and kidney for meat). The natural compound is the R enantiomer, while in food supplements generally the racemic form (R/S) is used. It exists in redox forms, the oxidised form with a ring containing a disulfide bond or a reduced form, in which the ring has been opened forming two thiol groups (dihydrolipoic acid). Alpha-lipoic acid is measurable in foods by established methods.
The Panel considers that the food constituent, alpha-lipoic acid, which is the subject of the health claims, is sufficiently characterised.
2.2. Zwiększenie wrażliwości na insulinę (ID 3158)
The claimed effect is “glucose metabolism”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
From the references provided, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to an increase in insulin sensitivity.
The Panel considers that an increase in insulin sensitivity is a beneficial physiological effect.
3.1. Zwiększenie wrażliwości na insulinę (ID 3158)
The references provided to substantiate the claim included one narrative review on alpha-lipoic acid on various health outcomes, which did not provide any original data that could be used to substantiate the claim. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from this reference for the scientific substantiation of the claim.
One reference reported on a human intervention study which addressed the effects of alpha-lipoic acid administered intravenously on insulin-mediated glucose disposal in patients with type 2 diabetes (Jacob et al., 1995). The Panel notes that the intravenous route of administration is not relevant for human nutrition, and considers that no conclusions can be drawn from this study for the scientific substantiation of the claim.
Another reference (Kamenova, 2006) reported on an open-label, case-control study which assessed the effect of oral administration of alpha-lipoic acid on insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes (n=12) treated with metformin tablets. The Panel notes that metformin is known to increase insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic subjects, and considers that the evidence provided does not establish that type 2 diabetic subjects under pharmacological treatment with metformin are representative of the target population for which the claim is intended. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from this study for the scientific substantiation of the claim.
Konrad et al. (1999) studied the effect of alpha-lipoic acid administered orally (600 mg, twice daily) for four weeks on blood insulin and glucose concentrations using an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and a modified frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIGTT) in lean (n=10) and obese (n=10) male patients with type 2 diabetes. The Panel notes that this study is an uncontrolled, open-label intervention, and considers that no conclusions can be drawn from this study for the scientific substantiation of the claim.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of alpha-lipoic acid and an increase in insulin sensitivity.
Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia
200 – 600 mg minimally for 4 weeks
