ID 4681 - Arginina

PL: Arginina
EN: Arginin
Pdf: L-arginine

Oświadczenie (2)

1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika

The food constituent that is the subject of the health claims is L-arginine.
Arginine is an alpha-amino acid present in foods from animal and vegetable origin. The L-form is the most commonly found form in nature and in food supplements. L-arginine is also known as (S)-2- amino-5-guanidinopentanoic acid and (S)-2-amino-5-[(aminoiminomethyl)amino] pentanoic acid. The terms L-arginine and arginine are frequently used interchangeably. The content of L-arginine in foods can be measured by established methods.
Arginine is a conditionally indispensable amino acid provided by mixed dietary protein intakes from different sources. Arginine can also be consumed in the form of food supplements as L-arginine.
The Panel considers that the food constituent, L-arginine, which is the subject of the health claims, is sufficiently characterised.

2.2. Wzrost lub utrzymanie masy mięśniowej (ID 456, 1712, 4681)

The claimed effects are “for muscle integrity and haematopoiesis (red blood cells building)”, “structural aminoacid for muscular growth”, and “increases muscle mass”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
In the context of the proposed wordings, the Panel assumes that the claimed effects refer to the growth or maintenance of muscle mass by decreasing muscle breakdown, increasing muscle synthesis, or both. Failure to increase muscle mass during growth and development, and the loss of muscle mass at any age, will reduce muscle strength and power.
The Panel considers that growth or maintenance of muscle mass is a beneficial physiological effect.

3.1. Wzrost lub utrzymanie masy mięśniowej (ID 456, 1712, 4681)

A claim on protein and growth and maintenance of muscle has already been assessed with a favourable outcome (EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products Nutrition and Allergies (NDA), 2010).
Arginine is a component of dietary protein, and both endogenous and exogenous arginine contribute to protein synthesis.
The references provided for the scientific substantiation of the claim included a textbook, narrative reviews, a web page, a monograph and opinion papers with no reference to the role of arginine on growth or maintenance of muscle mass, intervention studies on foods/food constituents other than L-arginine, and studies on the effects of arginine consumption on health outcomes other than growth or maintenance of muscle mass (e.g. immunity, endothelial function and hormonal modification). The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from these references for the scientific substantiation of the claim.
No references were provided which addressed the effects of arginine on growth or maintenance of muscle. No evidence has been provided that arginine in addition to normal protein intake has an additional role in muscle mass.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of L-arginine and growth or maintenance of muscle mass, apart from the well established role of protein on the claimed effect.

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