ID 452 - Glutamina

PL: Glutamina
EN: Glutamine
Pdf: L-glutamine

1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika

The food constituent that is the subject of the health claims is L-glutamine.
Glutamine is a conditionally indispensable amino acid provided by mixed dietary protein intakes from different sources. It can also be consumed as a food supplement. The content of L-glutamine in foods can be measured by established methods.
The Panel considers that the food constituent, L-glutamine, which is the subject of the health claims, is sufficiently characterised.

2.7. Utrzymanie obrony przed patogenami przewodu pokarmowego (ID 452)

The claimed effect is “maintains healthy gastrointestinal tract and immune functions in stressful conditions”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
In the context of the proposed wordings and the clarifications provided by Member States, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to the maintenance of defence against pathogenic gastro- intestinal microorganisms.
The Panel considers that maintenance of defence against pathogenic gastro-intestinal microorganisms is a beneficial physiological effect.

3. Naukowe uzasadnienia wpływu na zdrowie człowieka - 

The references provided for the scientific substantiation of these claims included textbooks and narrative reviews which did not provide original data for the scientific substantiation of the claim. Human, animal and in vitro studies on food constituents other than L-glutamine alone (e.g. branched- chain aminoacids (BCAA); N-acetyl-cysteine; mixtures of whey protein plus BCAA or arginine plus L-glutamine; mixtures of soy lecithin, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, thiamin, pyridoxine and L- glutamine; mixtures of glycine, niacin, and glutamine), on glutamine given intravenously, on health outcomes (e.g. treatment of chronic disease or pathological conditions, morbidity and mortality in pre- term infants, use in enteral nutrition) unrelated to the claimed effects, or on the effects of intense training on plasma and tissue concentrations of L-glutamine, were also provided. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from these references for the scientific substantiation of the claims.

3.7. Utrzymanie obrony przed patogenami przewodu pokarmowego (ID 452)

Rohde et al. (1996) investigated the effects of physical exercise (i.e. triathlon) on immune markers and serum amino acid concentrations in eight male tri-athletes. The Panel notes that this study did not report on L-glutamine intakes.
Castell et al. (1996) studied ultra-marathon (n=27), marathon (n=88), middle-distance (10 and 15 km; n=41) runners and rowers (n=45) undergoing training. Both males and females were included. Glutamine (5 g in 330 mL mineral water) or placebo (maltodextrin) were given immediately after and 2 h after a test exercise on a double-blind basis. Randomisation is not mentioned. The athletes were given a questionnaire to monitor infections according to specified symptoms for seven days after the test exercise. Gastro-intestinal infections were included for analysis in addition to airway infections. The incidence of infections in the seven-day period was only reported for marathon and ultra- marathon runners. The Panel notes the lack of information about randomisation, that no detailed information about the questionnaires used for the diagnosis of infections was provided, that the number of non-responders and the gender distribution were not indicated, and that it is unclear why some sub-groups of athletes were excluded from the statistical analysis. The Panel considers that owing to important methodological limitations 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 L-glutamine and maintenance of defence against pathogenic gastro-intestinal microorganisms.

Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia

Healthy adults concerned with maintaining healthy gastrointestinal tract and immune functions in stressful conditions AMOUNT RECOMMENDATION: Min 5 g glutamine per day

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