Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to thiamin
and reduction of tiredness and fatigue (ID 23) and contribution to normal
psychological functions (ID 205) 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:
Thiamin
fatigue
health claims
psychological functions
tiredness
1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika
The food constituent that is the subject of the health claims is thiamin (vitamin B1), which is a well recognised nutrient and is measurable in foods by established methods.
Thiamin occurs naturally in foods and is authorised for addition to foods (Annex I of the Regulation (EC) No 1925/20066 and Annex I of Directive 2002/46/EC7). This evaluation applies to thiamin 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, thiamin, which is the subject of the health claims, is sufficiently characterised.
2. Znaczenie oświadczenia dla zdrowia człowieka
2.1. Zmniejszenie zmęczenia (ID 23)
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.
2.2. Udział w prawidłowym przebiegu funkcji psychicznych (psychologicznych) (ID 205)
The claimed effect is “the role of vitamins and minerals in mental performance (where mental performance stands for those aspects of brain and nerve functions which determine aspects like
concentration, learning, memory and reasoning)”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
The Panel considers that contribution to normal psychological functions, which encompass cognitive and affective domains, is a beneficial physiological effect.
3. Naukowe uzasadnienia wpływu na zdrowie człowieka
3.1. Zmniejszenie zmęczenia (ID 23)
Ten references were provided for the scientific substantiation of this claim.
A review article described the role of the B vitamin family on mitochondrial energy metabolism. Another review article on the effect of physical activity on thiamin, riboflavin and vitamin B6 requirements described a study which examined the effect of multi-vitamin deficiency (including thiamin deficiency) on work performance. The Panel notes that no conclusions can be drawn from a multi-vitamin depletion study for the substantiation of a claim on thiamin alone.
A review article on the effect of vitamin and mineral status on physical performance describes the effects of impaired micronutrient status on human physiological function during exercise and physical performance. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from this reference for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect.
The remaining references were six nutrition textbooks and one opinion on dietary reference intakes for several vitamins and minerals including thiamin (IoM, 1998); tiredness and fatigue were not included in the symptoms of thiamin deficiency.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the dietary intake of thiamin and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
3.2. Udział w prawidłowym przebiegu funkcji psychicznych (psychologicznych) (ID 205)
Clinical signs of thiamin deficiency include mental changes such as apathy, decrease in short-term memory, confusion and irritability (IoM, 1998).
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the dietary intake of thiamin and contribution to normal psychological functions.
4. Uwagi do zaproponowanego brzmienia oświadczenia
4.1. Udział w prawidłowym przebiegu funkcji psychicznych (psychologicznych) (ID 205)
The Panel considers that the following wording reflects the scientific evidence: “Thiamin contributes to normal psychological functions”.
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 thiamin as per Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. Such amounts can be easily consumed as part of a balanced diet. Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL) have not been established for thiamin in children, adolescents and adults. The target population is the general population.
Wnioski
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that:
The food constituent, thiamin (vitamin B1), which is the subject of the health claims, is sufficiently characterised.
Reduction of tiredness and fatigue (ID 23)
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 thiamin and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
Contribution to normal psychological functions (ID 205)
The claimed effect is “the role of vitamins and minerals in mental performance (where mental performance stands for those aspects of brain and nerve functions which determine aspects like concentration, learning, memory and reasoning)”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. Contribution to normal psychological functions, which encompass cognitive and affective domains, is a beneficial physiological effect.
A cause and effect relationship has been established between the dietary intake of thiamin and contribution to normal psychological functions.
The following wording reflects the scientific evidence: “Thiamin contributes to normal psychological functions”.
Conditions and possible restrictions of use
In order to bear the claim a food should be at least a source of thiamin as per Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. Such amounts can be easily consumed as part of a balanced diet. The target population is the general population.
