Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to
phosphorus and reduction of tiredness and fatigue (ID 323) pursuant to
Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006[sup]1[/sup]
EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA)2, 3
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Parma, Italy
Słowa kluczowe:
1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika
The food constituent that is the subject of the health claim is phosphorus. Phosphorus is a well recognised nutrient and is measurable in foods by established methods.
Phosphorus occurs naturally in foods and is authorised for addition to foods and for use in food supplements (Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 1925/20066 and Annex I of Directive 2002/46/EC7). This evaluation applies to phosphorus naturally present in foods and those forms authorised for addition to foods (Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 and Annex II of Directive 2002/46/EC).
The Panel considers that the food constituent, phosphorus, which is the subject of the health claim, is sufficiently characterised.
2. Znaczenie oświadczenia dla zdrowia człowieka
The claimed effect is “vitamin/mineral supplementation to reduce fatigue and tiredness in situations of inadequate micronutrient status”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
The Panel considers that reduction of tiredness and fatigue is a beneficial physiological effect.
3. Naukowe uzasadnienia wpływu na zdrowie człowieka - Zmniejszenie zmęczenia
Two references were provided for the scientific substantiation of the claim. These were a text book chapter on the role of minerals in sports nutrition and a consensus opinion on dietary reference intakes for several vitamins and minerals including phosphorus, in which the claimed effect was not mentioned. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from these references for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect.
Tiredness and fatigue are not among the symptoms observed in the cases of hypophosphataemia with phosphorus deficiency which have been reported in humans, e.g. in patients with chronic alcoholism during alcohol withdrawal and in patients recovering from diabetic ketoacidosis. Simple dietary deficiency as a cause of hypophosphataemia with phosphorus deficiency is very rare (Knochel, 2006).
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the dietary intake of phosphorus and reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
Wnioski
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that:
The food constituent, phosphorus, which is the subject of the health claim, is sufficiently characterised.
The claimed effect is “vitamin/mineral supplementation to reduce fatigue and tiredness in situations of inadequate micronutrient status”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. Reduction of tiredness and fatigue is a beneficial physiological effect.
A cause and effect relationship has not been established between the dietary intake of phosphorus and reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
