ID 496 - Kwas gamma-linolenowy

PL: Kwas gamma-linolenowy
EN: Gamma linolenic acid (GLA)
Pdf:

Oświadczenie (2)

1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika

The food constituent that is the subject of the health claims is gamma-linolenic acid (GLA).
GLA is a n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid which is present in small amounts in a variety of foods of both plant and animal origin and which can also be synthesised in the human body from its precursor linoleic acid (LA). GLA is a well recognised nutrient and can be measured in foods by established methods. This evaluation applies to GLA from all sources.
The Panel considers that the food constituent, gamma-linolenic acid, which is the subject of the health claims is sufficiently characterised.

2.2. Utrzymanie masy ciała po odchudzaniu (ID 496)

The claimed effect is “reduces regaining weight”. The Panel assumes that the target population is overweight subjects in the general population who wish to maintain their body weight after significant weight loss.
Weight control can be interpreted as the contribution to the maintenance a normal body weight after weight loss. In this context, the maintenance of a moderate weight loss in overweight subjects without having achieved a normal body weight is considered a beneficial physiological effect.
The Panel considers that weight maintenance after weight loss is a beneficial physiological effect.

3.2. Utrzymanie masy ciała po odchudzaniu (ID 496)

One double-blind randomised controlled trial on the effects of GLA consumption on weight maintenance after weight loss in obese subjects was provided (Schirmer and Phinney, 2007).
Fifty obese subjects with a recent weight loss of at least 12 kg followed by a 6-month behavioural weight maintenance program were randomised to consume either 5 g/d borage oil (890 mg/d of GLA) or 5 g/d olive oil (controls) for 1 year. The study was terminated after 12 subjects in each group had completed the intervention. Weight regain was significantly greater in the control (8.78 +/- 2.78 kg) than in the GLA (2.17 +/- 1.78 kg) group. Weight regain was significantly lower (1.8 +/- 1.6 kg) in the GLA group than in controls (7.6 +/- 2.1 kg) for the 13 and 17 subjects, respectively, who completed a minimum of 50 weeks in the study. Weight regain did not differ in the remaining 10 GLA and 5 control subjects who were <50 weeks in the study. The Panel notes the small number of subjects
completing the study and the lack of significant effects of the intervention prior to 50 weeks of treatment.
In weighing the evidence, the Panel took into account that only one small study was presented testing the effects of GLA on weight loss without accompanying evidence of a biologically plausible mechanism by which GLA could exert the claimed effect.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of GLA and weight maintenance after weight loss.

Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia

890 mg/d of GLA in the form of borage oil (5 g/d) for 1 year