ID 436 - Beta-alanina

PL: Beta-alanina
EN: Beta alanine
Pdf: beta-alanine

Oświadczenie (2)

1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika

The food constituent that is the subject of the health claims is beta-alanine, which is a naturally occurring dispensable amino acid in which the amino group is at the β-position from the carboxyl group. Beta-alanine is synthesised in vivo by the degradation of dihydrouracil and carnosine. It is a component of the naturally occurring peptides carnosine and anserine and also of pantothenic acid. Beta-alanine is the rate-limiting precursor of carnosine. Beta-alanine can be provided in solution or as powder in gelatine capsules, and can be measured in food by established methods.
The Panel considers that the food constituent, beta-alanine, which is the subject of the health claims, is sufficiently characterised.

2.1. Zwiększenie wydolności fizycznej podczas krótkotrwałych ćwiczeń o wysokiej intensywności (ID 436, 1453, 1454, 1459)

The claimed effects are “increases muscle carnosine, the intracellular buffering agent proposed to be responsible for the beneficial effect on short-duration high intensity exercise”, “beta-alanine improves exercise performance”, “beta-alanine increases muscle buffering capacity” and “improves cycling performance”. The Panel assumes that the target population is active individuals in the general population.
In the context of the proposed wordings, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to the increase in physical performance during short-term high-intensity exercise induced by an increase in muscle buffering capacity. Performance relates to the ability of completing a certain task (e.g. running a certain distance) as fast as possible.
The Panel considers that an increase in physical performance during short-term high-intensity exercise is a beneficial physiological effect.

3.1. Zwiększenie wydolności fizycznej podczas krótkotrwałych ćwiczeń o wysokiej intensywności (ID 436, 1453, 1454, 1459)

Most of the references provided for the scientific substantiation of this claim did not address the effects of beta-alanine consumption on measures of physical performance but rather on other outcomes (e.g. carnosine stores). In addition, two abstracts were submitted in which the information provided regarding the study design, methodology and statistical analyses was insufficient for a complete scientific evaluation (Hill et al., 2005; Kim et al., 2007). The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from these references for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect.
Three randomised, placebo controlled, double blind intervention studies in humans assessing the effects of beta-alanine on different outcomes (physical working capacity at neuromuscular fatigue threshold, ventilatory threshold, VO2max, time-to-exhaustion, total work executed) in relation to the practice of short-duration, high-intensity exercise were provided (Stout et al., 2006, 2007; Hill et al., 2007). However, the Panel notes that physical performance was not assessed in any of the studies and considers that no conclusions can be drawn from these studies for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of beta-alanine and an increase in physical performance during short-term high-intensity exercise.

Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia

Claim to be only used for Foods for sportpeople under the Dir. 89/398/EEC. Sports foods and food supplements providing 1.6-5.2 g beta alanine per recommended daily consumption