ID 614 -
Tauryna
PL: Tauryna
EN: Taurine
Pdf: taurine
1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika
The food constituent that is the subject of the health claims is taurine (2- amino-ethanesulfonic acid), which is a well recognised nutrient and is measurable in foods by established methods.
Taurine occurs naturally in foods of animal origin and is practically absent from foods of plant origin.
The Panel considers that the food constituent, taurine, which is the subject of the health claims, is sufficiently characterised.
2.2. Metabolizm energetyczny (ID 614)
The claimed effect is “energy metabolism”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
In the context of the proposed wordings, the Panel notes that the claimed effect relates to the conversion of energy from foods into energy in the form of ATP which may be readily used by the body.
The Panel considers that normal energy-yielding metabolism is beneficial to human health.
3. Naukowe uzasadnienia wpływu na zdrowie człowieka
Taurine is synthesised in the body from sulphur containing amino acids, especially from cysteine, by oxidation of the sulphur function and decarboxylation. This last step is rate limiting. Compensatory mechanisms for dietary taurine deprivation (e.g. in vegans) include alteration of the bile salt glycine/taurine ratio, decrease in whole body taurine turnover and reduction of urinary excretion of taurine (Kendler, 1989). Taurine concentrations in tissues, particularly in the brain, are largely independent of taurine intakes. However, endogenous synthesis and usual consumptions can be insufficient to meet the metabolic needs in certain pathological conditions, so that taurine is considered to be a conditionally indispensable amino acid, particularly in preterm infants (Lourenço and Camilo, 2002).
3.2. Metabolizm energetyczny (ID 614)
One monograph was provided for the substantiation of the claimed effect (Jellin et al., 2000).
The role of taurine on carbohydrate metabolism is mentioned in some of the references provided to substantiate other claims on taurine (Huxtable, 1992; Birdsall, 1998; Bouckenooghe et al., 2006). Although a role for taurine on glucose absorption and metabolism has been suggested in animal and in vitro experimental studies via interactions with the insulin receptor, the clinical studies, which were performed in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, are too small and too short duration to draw any conclusions (Franconi et al., 2006). In addition, taurine supplementation has no effect on insulin secretion/action in non-diabetic overweight subjects (Bouckenooghe et al., 2006).
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of taurine and normal energy-yielding metabolism.
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