ID 601 - Kwas alfa-linolenowy

PL: Kwas alfa-linolenowy
EN: Alpha-linolenic acid (LNA-Omega 3)
Pdf: various food(s)/food constituent(s) that are referring to children’s development

Oświadczenie (2)

1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika

The food constituent that is the subject of the health claims is alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).
ALA is an essential n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid with 18 carbon atoms and three double bonds. ALA is a well recognised nutrient, is well absorbed when consumed in the form of triglycerides, and is measurable in foods by established methods.
The Panel notes that in the conditions of use for flaxseed oil (ID 578, 579, 601, 3182), ALA was identified as the proposed active ingredient.
The Panel considers that the food constituent, ALA, which is the subject of the health claims, is sufficiently characterised.

2.6. Poprawa nastroju (ID 578, 601, 3182)

The claimed effects are “mental state and performance”, and “emotional health”. 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 enhancement of mood. Mood is a well defined psychological construct and can be measured by validated tests.
The Panel considers that enhancement of mood might be a beneficial physiological effect.

3.2. Poprawa nastroju (ID 578, 601, 3182)

Among the publications provided for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect were textbooks, a publication from a government body which did not specifically mention the claimed effect, and references on outcomes unrelated to the claimed effect, such as the composition of nerve membranes, enzymatic activity, amplitude of electrophysiological parameters, resistance to poisons, performance of learning tasks, n-3 fatty acids and brain function during ageing, a case-report of human ALA deficiency reporting symptoms not related to mood, and a narrative review on the effects of various nutrients (including n-3 fatty acids) on the structure and function of the nervous system including the brain. Other references were narrative reviews and a general publication on the effects of n-3 fatty acids on various outcomes or diseases (mood modulation, stress, toxicomania, dyslexia, autism, depression, cognitive deficits, dementias, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and post-partum depression) which did not provide any original data for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from these references for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect.
One study examined the effects of supplementation with flax oil and vitamin C on blood fatty acid composition, and behaviour, in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (Joshi et al., 2006). One study undertaken in students reported on the effects of a mixture of ALA and linoleic acid on behavioural variables associated with anxiety (mood, appetite, mental concentration, fatigue, academic organisation and poor sleep) with respect to tests and examinations (Yehuda et al., 2005). The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from studies on a fixed combination for the substantiation of a claim on ALA alone.
One reference (Ross et al., 2007) was a systematic review of double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials published prior to April 2007 on the use of n-3 fatty acids in the treatment of patients diagnosed with mental illness (e.g. schizophrenia, personality disorders, depressive disorder and bipolar disorder). The Panel notes that no evidence has been provided to indicate that results from studies on enhancement of mood in these patients can be extrapolated to the general population.
Another systematic review carried out by Schachter et al. (2005) for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality addressed, inter alia, the question of the protective value of n-3 fatty acids with regard to mental health. Addressing the question of whether n-3 fatty acid intake is associated with the onset, continuation or recurrence of depression, the authors identified three intervention studies, six observational studies, and three cross-national ecological studies which met their inclusion
criteria, and which were therefore included in the review. Only one of these studies assessed the effects of ALA intake (Edwards et al., 1998). This study used the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) in 10 depressed patients and 14 matched controls to assess the effect of diet on depressive symptoms. The Panel notes that no evidence was presented to indicate that results from studies on enhancement of mood in these patients can be extrapolated to the general population.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the dietary intake of alpha-linolenic acid and enhancement of mood.

Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia

Flaxseed and flaxseed oil At least 1,5 g of flaxseed oil per day or equivalent amount corresponding to at least 700 mg of ALA per day