Week 3 - Food supplements + flavourings Flashcards
True of False : the only supplements regulated are the supplements containing vitamins and minerals, botanical supplements are not regulated
true
T or F : when the supplement are considered food like plant food supplements (PFS), it is the manufacturer that is responsible for its safety
true, and their regulation and control rather follow incidence
T or F : vitamins and minerals do not go through a safety evaluation
false, their safety is evaluated by EFSA and the safe levels of intake are defined by the upper tolerable levels (UL)
T or F : for vitamins and minerals, the RDI is set
false, there is some UL which is the tolerable upper intake level
What are the two major categories of supplements in the EU
- Vitamins and minerals (regulated) 2. Plant food supplements (PFS ; non regulated)
T or F ; there is a growing concern about the risks of PFS
true because of the lack of regulation
T or F : nutritional and health claims are regulated only for vitamins and minerals supplements
false, also regulated for PFS (since 2012) and thus this leaves important issues for the near future since for PFS the health claims are regulated but not the safety
The list of health claims for supplements is based on :
scientific advice provided by EFSA
The directive from 2002, introduces supplements has food defined as ____
concentrated sources of nutrients
With regard to vitamins and minerals; food supplements may only contain the vitamins and mineral salts laid down in:
Annex 1 and Annex II of the Directive 2002
EC 2002 AD1- Annex I contains information on :
the vitamins and minerals that can be used in the manufacture of food supplements. Example calcium.
EC 2002 AD1- Annex II contains information on :
information on the vit and min substances that can be used in the manufacture of food supplements (salts forms, combined form). Example calcium-salts. So the source of the supplement if you will.
Annex II - Safety evaluations by EFSA of the nutrient sources focuses on :
the source of the nutrient and not on the safety of the nutrient itself
Annex I - The safety evaluation by EFSA of nutrients itself focuses on
a tolerable upper intake (UL) since some vitamins and minerals taken at higher doses may results in toxicity.
T or F : new vitamins and minerals may be considered for the inclusion in the Annex I and II following the evaluation of an appropriate scientific dossier concerning the safety and bioavailability of the individual substance by EFSA
true
What are the characteristics of nutrients which distinguish them from other chemical risk assessment?
1- Nutrients are essential for human well-being at a certain range of intake
2- long history of safe consumption
3- for some nutrients there may be experience of widespread chronic consumption at levels significantly above the levels obtained from foods (ex, viamin C)
4- Adverse effects are often available from human studies (reducing the UF)
5- The human body is adapted for the consumption (excretory, metabolic processes, homestatic regulation etc) and this provides a measure of protection
6- Tolerable upper intake level (UL) instead of ADI/TDI or MOE since deficiency can also occur
What is the UL ?
it is the tolerable upper intake level (UL) which is the maximum level of total chronic daily intake of a nutrient (from all sources) that will unlikely pose a risk adverse health effect to humans
The default uncertainty value of 100 used in conversion of NOAEL values into ADIs can be applied when defining ULs
true and false, depends since the application of UF should not derive the UL to be lower than the RDI and RDA
What was the effect chosen has the critical effect for the establishment of a UL for vitamin A ?
the teratogenic potential of vitamin A metabolite (trans-retinoic acid) lead to the establishment of a UL of vitamin A of 3000 µg RE/day
T or F : sometime some claims found on some websites will mislead consumers into thinking more vitamin supplements are better for their health
true
What are the concern around PFS
1- overconsumptions for particular groups
2- the perception of consumers that natural = safe
3- the availability of PFS on internet from other countries with different regulations
4- no detailed requirements on safety and quality of PFS (no quality control)
What are the various reasons that PFS could be toxic ?
1- Naturally present toxic ingredients (ex, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, alkenylbenzen, coumarin, phytoestrogens, kavalactone etc)
2- Replacement of a harmless vriety with a toxic alternative (Ex fangji)
3- Adulteration (ex. viagra to make it work)
4- Contaminants (ex. PAH)
Pyrolizidine alkaloids (PA) is an example of _____ of PFS
naturally present toxic ingredient
What are the toxic effect of pyrolizidine alkaloids ?
hepatotoxicity, veno-occlusive disease, cancer in animals.
T or F : use of toxic PA-containing plants as food (products) as been restricted
true, plant variety like comfrey are not allowed
Alkenylbenzenes are an example of ____ in PFS
naturally present toxic ingredient
What are the example of naturally present toxic ingredients seen in PFS seen in this course ?
- alkenylbenzene
- pyrolizidine alkaloids
3.
In what type of PFS are alkenylbenzenes mostly found ?
Essential oils of basil, fennel, nutmeg and some other spices/herbs.
What conditions is associeted the consumption of alkenylbenzenes in rodents
tumors are higher levels since these are genotoxic compounds
Anisatin is an example of ___ of PFS
replacement of a harmless variety with a toxic alternative
What was the incident that happened around star anise ?
in japan and botanist making the tea switched a variatty of the star anise for a toxic variety the anisatin which contains toxic GABA blocker and lead peolple ot the IC units.