Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to meso-
zeaxanthin and maintenance of vision (ID 2096) 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:
Meso-zeaxanthin
health claims
vision
1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika
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Utrzymanie prawidłowego wzroku
The food constituent that is the subject of the health claim is meso-zeaxanthin. Meso-zeaxanthin is a dietary carotenoid and is measurable in foods by established methods.
The Panel considers that the food constituent, meso-zeaxanthin, which is the subject of the health claim is sufficiently characterised.
2. Znaczenie oświadczenia dla zdrowia człowieka
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Utrzymanie prawidłowego wzroku
The claimed effect is “required for macular pigmentation in the eyes for helping in maintenance of health eye functions”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
From the data provided, it has not been established that a change in macular pigment in people with healthy eyes is related to eye function. Normal vision, however, is a function of the eye which can be assessed by established methods.
The Panel considers that maintenance of normal vision is a beneficial physiological effect.
3. Naukowe uzasadnienia wpływu na zdrowie człowieka - Utrzymanie prawidłowego wzroku
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Utrzymanie prawidłowego wzroku
Two references were cited to substantiate the claimed effect. The paper of Thurnham et al. (2008) was a supplementation study which investigated the bioavailability of meso-zeaxanthin in humans and did not evaluate outcomes relevant for the claimed effect. The other paper reported on the macular
pigment response to a supplement containing meso-zeaxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin in ten subjects against a control group of nine subjects who were given placebo (Bone et al., 2007). The Panel notes that the intervention supplement was confounded by the presence of other carotenoids and that the study did not evaluate a functional measure of vision.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of meso-zeaxanthin and maintenance of normal vision.
Wnioski
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that:
The food constituent, meso-zeaxanthin, which is the subject of the health claim is sufficiently characterised.
The claimed effect is “required for macular pigmentation in the eyes for helping in maintenance of health eye functions”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. Maintenance of normal vision is a beneficial physiological effect.
A cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of meso- zeaxanthin and maintenance of normal vision.
