Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to shark
cartilage and maintenance of joints (ID 1852, 1853) pursuant to
Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006[sup]1[/sup]
EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA)2
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Parma, Italy
Słowa kluczowe:
Shark cartilage
health claims
joints
1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika
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Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu stawów
The food constituent that is the subject of the health claim is shark cartilage (powder and extract). Shark cartilage powder is usually obtained by lyophilisation and pulverisation of shark cartilage from different locations (e.g., spine). No specifications about the composition of shark cartilage powder have been provided.
Several shark cartilage extracts have been used in the studies presented, but their compositional characteristics and method of extraction differ. From the literature provided, the Panel notes that different molecules have been extracted from shark cartilage, including neovast (AE-941), squalamine (a low molecular weight aminosterol), and chondroitin sulphate.
From the conditions of use it not possible to understand the characteristics of the shark cartilage powder, product or extract for which the claim is made.
The Panel considers that the food constituent, shark cartilage, which is the subject of the health claim is not sufficiently characterised.
2. Znaczenie oświadczenia dla zdrowia człowieka
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Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu stawów
The claimed effect is “joint health”. 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 maintenance of normal joints.
The Panel considers that the maintenance of normal joints is beneficial to human health.
3. Naukowe uzasadnienia wpływu na zdrowie człowieka - Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu stawów
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Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu stawów
Two general references on food supplements, one rat study on the bioavailability of chondroitin sulphate from shark cartilage, one study on the effects of orally administered chondrosine derived from shark chondroitin sulfate on the uptake of inorganic (35)S sulfate into rat cartilage, one study on the use of shark cartilage in the treatment of secondary osteoarthritis in the dog, one rat study on the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of a water soluble fraction extracted from shark cartilage, a paper on the treatment of human cancer with bovine cartilage, a general review on the role of angiogenesis in different chronic diseases in humans, two human studies on the oral absorption and bioavailability of a shark cartilage extract and of chondroitin sulfate from shark cartilage, a book on the “anti-cancer properties” of shark cartilage, and four other publications on the effects of shark cartilage derivatives on angiogenesis and cancer progression in animals and humans have been provided to substantiate this claim.
The Panel notes that no studies have been presented investigating the effects of shark cartilage or of shark cartilage derivatives on maintenance of normal joints in humans.
In weighing the evidence, the Panel considered that the food constituent that is the subject of the health claim is not sufficiently characterised, that the evidence provided in the animal and in vitro studies submitted does not predict the occurrence of an effect of shark cartilage intake on maintenance of normal joints in humans, and that no studies have been presented investigating the effects of shark cartilage or of shark cartilage derivatives on maintenance of normal joints in humans.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of shark cartilage and the maintenance of normal joints.
Wnioski
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that:
The food constituent, shark cartilage, which is the subject of the health claim, is not sufficiently characterised.
The claimed effect is “joint health”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. Maintenance of normal joints is beneficial to human health.
A cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of shark cartilage and the maintenance of normal joints.
