Food Law Enforcement Practitioners Forum, 23rd

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Food Law Enforcement Practitioners Forum, 23rd
24th June 2003

• Report on safe upper limits for vitamins and
  minerals

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Summary

• Report of Expert Group on vitamins and minerals
• Evidence assessed
• Main findings
• Further Action

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Expert group

• Independent
• Over four years work
• Only consider vitamin and minerals which were
  foods
• Safe Upper limits were issued for 8 vitamins and
  minerals and guidance was issued for 22.

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Data Considered

• Human data
• Animal data
• Carcinogenicity and genotoxicity data
• In vitro data
• Exposure data
• Survey data

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Findings

• Current levels of most V Ms not harmful
• One substance may have the potential to cause
  cancer
• 6 may cause irreversible effects
• 3 may have short term effects

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Chromium picolinate

• May be carcinogenic
• Shown to cause damage to DNA in mammalian cells
  in vitro
• FSA consulting on a ban
• 10mg/day of chromium in other forms not thought
  to be harmful

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Short term effects

• Vitamin C above 1000mg /day could cause diarrhoea
• Calcium above 1500mg/day and iron above 17mg/day
  may cause similar symptoms. These symptoms stop
  when the consumption stops

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Irreversible harmful effects

• Beta-carotene
• Nicotinic acid
• Zinc
• Manganese
• Phosphorus

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Advice Re-emphasised

• Vitamin B6
• No more than 10mg/day from supplements
• High intakes over prolonged periods can lead to
  loss of feeling in legs and arms

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Other Vitamins and Minerals considered

• Biotin
• Folic Acid
• Pantothenic acid
• Riboflavin
• Niacin
• Thiamin
• Vitamin B12

• Vitamin K
• Boron
• Cobalt
• Copper
• Iodine
• Molybdenum
• Nickel

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Other Vitamins and Mineral Considered

• Magnesium
• Silicon
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E

• Potassium
• Selenium
• Tin

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Action

• Voluntary Industry Measures
• National Measures
• Community Measures