Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to sodium
and maintenance of normal muscle function (ID 359) 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:
Sodium
health claims
muscle function
1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika
The food constituent that is the subject of the health claim is sodium.
Sodium is a well recognised nutrient and is measurable in foods by established methods. It is naturally present in foods as a normal constituent at a low concentration. Sodium is also added to foods, mainly as sodium chloride (commonly known as salt) during processing, cooking or immediately prior to consumption, but also for example as sodium nitrate, sodium phosphate or sodium glutamate. Sodium is authorised for addition to foods and for use in food supplements (Annex I of the Regulation (EC) No 1925/20066 and Annex I of Directive 2002/46/EC7). This evaluation applies to sodium naturally present in foods and sodium added to foods.
The Panel considers that the food constituent, sodium, which is the subject of the health claim, is sufficiently characterised.
2. Znaczenie oświadczenia dla zdrowia człowieka
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Sód przyczynia się do utrzymania prawidłowego funkcjonowania mięśni
The claimed effect is “muscle function”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
The Panel considers that maintenance of normal muscle function is a beneficial physiological effect.
3. Naukowe uzasadnienia wpływu na zdrowie człowieka - Utrzymanie prawidłowego funkcjonowania mięśni
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Sód przyczynia się do utrzymania prawidłowego funkcjonowania mięśni
Sodium contributes to the establishment of the membrane potential of most cells and plays a direct role in the action potential required for the transmission of nerve impulses and muscle contraction (EFSA, 2005).
The Panel notes that sodium deficiency, albeit unusual and regularly not of dietary origin, can lead to muscle cramps.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the dietary intake of sodium and maintenance of normal muscle function. However, the evidence provided does not establish that inadequate intake of sodium leading to impaired muscle function occurs in the general EU population.
4. Uwagi do zaproponowanego brzmienia oświadczenia
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Sód przyczynia się do utrzymania prawidłowego funkcjonowania mięśni
The Panel considers that the following wording reflects the scientific evidence: “Sodium contributes to the maintenance of normal muscle function”.
5. Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia
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Sód przyczynia się do utrzymania prawidłowego funkcjonowania mięśni
The Panel notes that there is no evidence of deficiency of sodium leading to impaired muscle function in the general population in the EU. The Panel also notes that a dietary reference value has not been established for sodium, albeit it is suggested that an intake of 25 mmol/day (575 mg/day) could be set as an average requirement and the acceptable range of intake for adults should be from 25 to 150 mmol/day (575 to 3,450 mg/day) (SCF, 1993). No Upper Tolerable Intake Levels (ULs) have been set for sodium from dietary sources in children, adolescents or adults. The current intake levels of sodium as sodium chloride have been associated directly with a greater likelihood of increased blood pressure, which in turn has been directly related to the development of cardiovascular and renal diseases. For these reasons, national and international bodies have set targets for a reduction in dietary sodium intakes (EFSA, 2005; EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products Nutrition and Allergies (NDA), 2011).
Wnioski
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that:
The food constituent, sodium, which is the subject of the health claim, is sufficiently characterised.
The claimed effect is “muscle function”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. Maintenance of normal muscle function is a beneficial physiological effect.
A cause and effect relationship has been established between the dietary intake of sodium and maintenance of normal muscle function.
The evidence provided does not establish that inadequate intake of sodium leading to impaired muscle function occurs in the general EU population.
The following wording reflects the scientific evidence: “Sodium contributes to the maintenance of normal muscle function”.
Dietary reference value has not been established for sodium, albeit it is suggested that an intake of 25 mmol/day (575 mg/day) could be set as an average requirement and the acceptable range of intake for adults should be from 25 to 150 mmol/day (575 to 3,450 mg/day). The current intake levels of sodium as sodium chloride have been associated directly with a greater likelihood of increased blood pressure, which in turn has been directly related to the development of cardiovascular and renal diseases.
