Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to potassium and maintenance of normal muscular and neurological function (ID 320, 386) and maintenance of normal blood pressure (ID 321) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006
Carlo Agostoni, Jean-Louis Bresson, Susan Fairweather-Tait, Albert Flynn, Ines Golly, Hannu Korhonen, Pagona Lagiou, Martinus Løvik, Rosangela Marchelli, Ambroise Martin, Bevan Moseley, Monika Neuhäuser-Berthold, Hildegard Przyrembel, Seppo Salminen, Yolanda Sanz, Sean (J.J.) Strain, Stephan Strobel, Inge Tetens, Daniel Tomé, Hendrik van Loveren, and Hans Verhagen.
Acknowledgment
The Panel wishes to thank for the preparation of this opinion: The members of the Working Group on Claims: Carlo Agostoni, Jean-Louis Bresson, Susan Fairweather-Tait, Albert Flynn, Ines Golly, Marina Heinonen, Hannu Korhonen, Martinus Løvik, Ambroise Martin, Hildegard Przyrembel, Seppo Salminen, Yolanda Sanz, Sean (J.J.) Strain, Inge Tetens, Hendrik van Loveren and Hans Verhagen.
Contact
nda@efsa.europa.eu
No abstract available
Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to provide a scientific opinion on a list of health claims pursuant to Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. This opinion addresses the scientific substantiation of health claims in relation to potassium and maintenance of normal muscular and neurological function and maintenance of normal blood pressure. The scientific substantiation is based on the information provided by the Member States in the consolidated list of Article 13 health claims and references that EFSA has received from Member States or directly from stakeholders.
The food constituent that is the subject of the health claims is potassium, which is a well recognised nutrient and is measurable in foods by established methods. The Panel considers that potassium is sufficiently characterised.
Muscular and neurological function (ID 320, 386)
The claimed effects are “signal transduction and muscle contraction” and “nerve function”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. The Panel considers that maintenance of normal muscular and neurological function is a beneficial physiological effect.
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the dietary intake of potassium and normal muscular and neurological function.
Blood pressure (ID 321)
The claimed effect is “blood pressure”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. The Panel considers that maintenance of normal blood pressure is a beneficial physiological effect.
In weighing the evidence, the Panel took into account that, even if one meta-analysis of RCTs did not observe an effect on BP following potassium supplementation, most observational and most of the RCTs reviewed in three meta-analyses, two of them including well controlled trials and adjustment for confounders, report a significant association/effect between potassium intake and lower BP. Although not all authoritative bodies agree on this association, European and American professional associations recommend to increase dietary potassium intakes for the prevention and management of human hypertension and biologically plausible mechanisms for these effects have been proposed.
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the dietary intake of potassium and the maintenance of a normal blood pressure.
The Panel considers that, in order to bear the claims, a food should be at least a source of potassium as per Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. Such amounts can be easily consumed as part of a balanced diet. The target population is the general population.
Potassium, electrolyte balance, muscle, nerves, blood pressure, health claims
