Scientific Documents

Calcium citrate malate as source for calcium for use in foods for Particular Nutritional Uses and in foods for the general population (including food supplements)[1] - Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing aids and Materials in Contact with food (AFC)

Summary (30 KB)

Opinion (145 KB)

Summary

Following a request from the Commission, the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing aids and Materials in Contact with Food (AFC) was asked to give a scientific opinion on the safety and bioavailability of calcium citrate malate as a source for calcium intended for use in foods for Particular Nutritional Uses (PARNUTS) and foods intended for the general population (including food supplements).

The present opinion deals only with the safety and bioavailability of a particular source of calcium. The safety of calcium itself, in terms of amounts that may be consumed, is outside the remit of this Panel.
The available data provide information to conclude that calcium is bioavailable from calcium citrate malate. The safety evaluation of calcium citrate malate was based on specific toxicity studies and extensive information on calcium supplementation trials in humans as well as existing safety evaluations of its individual component substances, citric acid and malic acid.

On this basis, the Panel concluded that the use of calcium citrate malate as source for calcium intended for use in foods for Particular Nutritional Uses (PARNUTS) and foods for the general population (including food supplements) is of no safety concern at the maximum levels estimated in this opinion.