ID 4297 - Cysteina

PL: Cysteina
EN: Cystine
Pdf: L-cysteine

Oświadczenie (2)

1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika

The food constituents that are the subject of the health claims are L-cysteine and L-methionine. L-methionine is an indispensable amino acid. L-cysteine can be synthesised from L-methionine and L-serine.
L-methionine and L-cysteine can be measured in foods by established methods.
The Panel assumes that the food constituents under evaluation are L-cysteine and L-methionine consumed in addition to adequate protein intakes.
The Panel considers that the food constituents, L-cysteine and L-methionine alone or in combination, which are the subject of the health claims, are sufficiently characterised.

2.1. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu włosów (ID 597, 4224, 4297, 4685, 4686)

The claimed effects are “hair and nails health”, “hair and nail resistance and growth”, “hair growth”, “healthy hair and nails by stabilising protein structure and aids in the formation of collagen”, and “hair health as supplier of sulphur”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
The Panel considers that maintenance of normal hair is a beneficial physiological effect.

3.1. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu włosów (ID 597, 4224, 4297, 4685, 4686)

The references cited for the substantiation of the claimed effect included several reviews which did not contain any original data that could be used to substantiate the claimed effect. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from these references for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect. Four human intervention studies investigated the effect of L-cystine supplementation in combination with other food constituents on hair loss. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from studies on fixed combinations for the substantiation of the claim on L-cysteine or L- methionine alone.
Some references dealt with a case report of an 8-year old L-methionine-deficient child with a hair disorder, the structural composition of human hair or outcomes unrelated to the claimed effect. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from these references for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect.
Several animal studies dealt with the effects of L-cysteine or L-methionine intake alone or in combination with other constituents or of insufficient intake of L-cysteine or L-methionine on hair growth, hair structure or hair loss. One in vitro study looked at the reduction mechanism of L-cysteine on keratin fibres. The Panel considers that the evidence provided in animal and in vitro studies is not sufficient to predict the occurrence of an effect of the consumption of L-cysteine and L-methionine alone or in combination on the maintenance of normal hair in humans.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of L-cysteine and L-methionine alone or in combination and maintenance of normal hair.

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