ID 79 - Kwas foliowy

PL: Kwas foliowy
EN: Folate
Pdf: folate

Oświadczenie (4)

Oświadczenie (2)

1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika

The food constituent that is the subject of the health claims is folate. Folate is measurable in foods by established methods.
Folate is the generic name for a number of compounds having a similar activity as folic acid (pteroylglutamic acid, PGA). Folic acid (PGA) is a synthetic folate compound used in food supplements and in food fortification because of its stability, and becomes biologically active after reduction. Natural (dietary) folates are mostly reduced folates, i.e. derivatives of tetrahydrofolate (THF) (SCF, 2000).
Different forms of folate are authorised for addition to foods (Annex II of the Regulation (EC) No 1925/20064 and Annex II of Directive 2002/46/EC5). This evaluation applies to folate naturally present in foods and those forms authorised for addition to foods (Annex II of the Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 and Annex II of Directive 2002/46/EC).
The Panel considers that the food constituent, folate, which is the subject of the health claims, is sufficiently characterised.

2.1. Tworzenie krwinek (komórek krwi) (ID 79)

The claimed effect is “blood formation”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
The Panel considers that normal blood formation is beneficial to human health.

3. Naukowe uzasadnienia wpływu na zdrowie człowieka

Folates play an important role in the transfer of C1-groups (i.e. methyl-, methylene- and formyl- groups), maintaining the methylation balance (SCF, 2000). Folate coenzymes are involved in numerous reactions that involve DNA synthesis, purine synthesis, generation of formate into the formate pool and amino acid interconversion (IoM, 1998).

3.1. Tworzenie krwinek (komórek krwi) (ID 79)

In folate deficiency, a net decrease in 5,10-methlyene-tetrahydrofolate interrupts the reaction mediated by thymidylate synthase, which converts deoxyuridine monophosphate to deoxythymidine monophosphate. The excess deoxyuridine monophosphate is then phosphorylated to deoxyuridine triphosphate and is incorporated into DNA. This faulty incorporation is immediately recognised by an editorial enzyme and is excised. When this process is repeated several times, it leads to DNA fragmentation and to perturbation of the cell cycle giving rise to megaloblastosis. All proliferating cells exhibit megaloblastosis; however the changes are most striking in the blood and bone marrow (Chitambar and Anthony, 2006). The main clinical expression of folate deficiency is megaloblastic anemia characterised by large, abnormally nucleated erythrocytes that accumulate in the bone marrow. There are also decreased numbers of white cells and platelets as a result of the general impairment of cell division (Bailey and Gregory, 2006).
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the dietary intake of folate and normal blood formation.

4.1. Tworzenie krwinek (komórek krwi) (ID 79)

The Panel considers that the following wording reflects the scientific evidence: “Folate contributes to normal blood formation.”

5. Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia

The Panel considers that in order to bear the claims a food should be at least a source of folate as per Annex to Regulation (EC) 1924/2006. Such amounts can be easily consumed as part of a balanced diet. The target population is the general population for the following claimed effects: blood formation (ID 79), homocysteine metabolism (ID 80), function of the immune system (ID 91), and cell division (ID 193). The target population is women planning to become pregnant and pregnant women for the following claimed effect: maternal tissue growth during pregnancy (ID 2882). Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL) have been established for folic acid for children and adults. The Tolerable Upper Intake Level for adults has been set at 1000 µg/d (SCF, 2000).

Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia

Must at least be a source of vitamin/s as per annex to regulation 1924/2006