ID 91 - 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.

2.4. Funkcjonowanie układu odpornościowego (ID 91)

The claimed effect is “the role of vitamins and minerals in immunity”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
The Panel considers that a normal function of the immune system 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).

3.4. Funkcjonowanie układu odpornościowego (ID 91)

Folate plays a crucial role in nucleotide synthesis, and thus may affect immune cell proliferation and responsiveness. Folate deficiency has been shown to reduce proliferation of various cell types. Cells lacking folate accumulate in the S-phase owing to nucleotide imbalance and slow DNA synthesis; such cells also have increased uracil misincorporation and DNA damage. When folate is added back
to folate-deficient cells, there is a reversal of the S-phase accumulation, and proliferation is restored. Folate deficiency has been shown to reduce the proportion of circulating T lymphocytes and their proliferation in response to mitogen activation. In addition, folate deficiency induced in PHA- activated human T lymphocytes induced apoptosis and increased the ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ T cells because of a marked reduction in CD8+ cell proliferation. All these effects were reversible in vitro by either folate addition or nucleotide repletion, and suggest that folate status may affect the immune system by inhibiting the capacity of CD8+ T lymphocyte cells to proliferate in response to mitogen activation (Courtemanche et al., 2004).
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the dietary intake of folate and a normal function of the immune system.

4.3. Funkcjonowanie układu odpornościowego (ID 91)

The Panel considers that the following wording reflects the scientific evidence: “Folate contributes to a normal function of the immune system.”

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 meet minimum requirements for use of the claim "source of [name of vitamin/s] and/or [name of mineral/s]" as per Annex to Regulation 1924/2006.