Adequate Urinary Iodine Concentration among Infants in the Inland Area of Norway

2021

Considering the importance of iodine to support optimal growth and neurological development of the brain and central nervous system, this study aimed to assess and evaluate iodine status in Norwegian infants. We collected data on dietary intake of iodine, iodine knowledge in mothers, and assessed iodine concentration in mother’s breast milk and in infant’s urine in a cross-sectional study at two public healthcare clinics in the inland area of Norway. In the 130 mother–infant pairs, the estimated infant 24-h median iodine intake was 50 (IQR 31, 78) µg/day. The median infant urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was 146 (IQR 93, 250) µg/L and within the recommended median defined by the World He…

Risk Assessment of Other Substances in Food Supplements - L-methionine

2020

"Other substances" are described in the food supplement directive 2002/46/EC as substances other than vitamins or minerals that have a nutritional and/or physiological effect, and may be added to food supplements or e.g. energy drinks. In the series of risk assessments of "other substances" the VKM has not evaluated any claimed beneficial effects from these substances, but merely possible adverse effects at specified doses used in Norway. 
 This statement regards the substance L-methionine per se, and no specific products.
 According to information from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA), L-methionine is an ingredient in food supplements sold in Norway. NFSA has requested …

Assessment of Vitamin B6 Intake in Relation to Tolerable Upper Intake Levels

2018

Assessment of Copper Intake in Relation to Tolerable Upper Intake Levels

2018

Risk Assessment of "Other Substances" – Glycine

2018

Assessment of Selenium Intake in Relation to Tolerable Upper Intake Levels

2018

Assessment of Dietary Intake of Manganese in Relation to Tolerable Upper Intake Level

2019

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (Vitenskapskomiteen for mat og miljø, VKM) has, at the request of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet; NFSA), evaluated the intake of manganese from the diet and 1, 5 or 10 mg manganese per day in food supplements. The former maximum limit for manganese in food supplements was 5 mg per daily dose. 
 Manganese (Mn) is an essential dietary mineral for mammals, and is a component of metalloenzymes such as superoxide dismutase, arginase and pyruvate carboxylase. Manganese is involved in amino acid-, lipid- and carbohydrate metabolism and in proteoglycan synthesis in bone formation. In 2013, the European Food Safety Au…

Adequate vitamin B12 and folate status of Norwegian vegans and vegetarians

2022

AbstractPlant-based diets may increase the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency due to limited intake of animal-source foods, while dietary folate increases when adhering to plant-based diets. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the B12 and folate status of Norwegian vegans and vegetarians using dietary B12 intake, B12 and folic acid supplement use, and biomarkers (serum B12 (B12), plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), plasma methylmalonic acid (MMA) and serum folate). Vegans (n 115) and vegetarians (n 90) completed a 24-h dietary recall and a FFQ and provided a non-fasting blood sample. cB12, a combined indicator for evaluation of B12 status, was calculated. B12 status was adequate in both v…

Assessment of Dietary Intake of Vitamin K and Maximum Limits for Vitamin K in Food Supplements

2019

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (Vitenskapskomiteen for mat og miljø, VKM) has, at the request of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet; NFSA), evaluated the intake of vitamin K in the diet. VKM has also assessed the consequences of establishing maximum limits for vitamin K in food supplements at 100, 200, 300, 600 or 800 µg/day. The former maximum limit for vitamin K of 200 µg/day in food supplements was repealed 30 May 2017.
 Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin required for the carboxylation of glutamic acid residues in proteins that regulate blood coagulation and bone metabolism. The naturally occurring forms of vitamin K present in food and sup…

Risk Assessment of "Other Substances" – L-threonine

2020

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet, VKM) has, at the request of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet; NFSA), assessed the risk of "other substances" in food supplements and energy drinks sold in Norway. VKM has assessed the risk of doses given by NFSA. These risk assessments will provide NFSA with the scientific basis while regulating "other substances" in food supplements.
 "Other substances" are described in the food supplement directive 2002/46/EC as substances other than vitamins or minerals that have a nutritional and/ or physiological e ffect. It is added mainly to food supplements, but also to energy drinks and othe…

Life-course perspectives of milk consumption among young Norwegian women and their knowledge of milk as a source of iodine: a qualitative study.

2021

Mild to moderate iodine deficiency has been found among young Norwegian women of reproductive age. In Norway, cow’s milk is the main source of iodine; however, milk consumption is decreasing, particularly among young women. This study aimed to investigate milk consumption practices in young Norwegian women and their attitudes toward milk consumption from childhood to young adulthood in a life-course perspective and their knowledge of milk as a source of iodine. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 30 bachelor students (women, 18–25 years old) from five different study programs. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to interpret milk consumption practices from a life-co…

Risk Assessment of "Other Substances" – L-Tyrosine

2020

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet, VKM) has, at the request of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet; NFSA), assessed the risk of "other substances" in food supplements and energy drinks sold in Norway. VKM has assessed the risk of doses given by NFSA. These risk assessments will provide NFSA with the scientific basis for regulating the addition of "other substances" to food supplements and other foods.
 "Other substances" are described in the food supplement directive 2002/46/EC as substances other than vitamins or minerals that have a nutritional or physiological effect. It is added mainly to food supplements, but also t…

Assessment of Dietary Intake of Chromium (III) in Relation to Tolerable Upper Intake Level

2018

Risk Assessment of "Other Substances" – L-serine

2020

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet, VKM) has, at the request of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet; NFSA), assessed the risk of "other substances" in food supplements and energy drinks sold in Norway. VKM has assessed the risk of doses given by NFSA. These risk assessments will provide NFSA with the scientific basis while regulating "other substances" in food supplements.
 "Other substances" are described in the food supplement directive 2002/46/EC as substances other than vitamins or minerals that have a nutritional and / or physiological effect. It is added mainly to food supplements, but also to energy drinks and othe…

Risk Assessment of "Other Substances"-Beta-Alanine

2018

Assessment of Vitamin E Intake in Relation to Tolerable Upper Intake Levels

2018

Iron Status of Vegans, Vegetarians and Pescatarians in Norway

2021

Although plant-based diets provide well-established physical and environmental health benefits, omitting meat or meat products has also been associated with a risk of being deficient in specific nutrients, such as iron. As data on the iron status among Norwegian vegans, vegetarians and pescatarians are lacking, the present study aimed to assess iron status in these groups of healthy adults. Blood markers for iron status were measured in 191 participants (18–60 years old) comprising 106 vegans, 54 vegetarians and 31 pescatarians: serum-ferritin (S-Fe), serum-iron (S-Iron) and serum-total iron binding capacity (S-TIBC). Serum-transferrin-saturation (S-TSAT) was estimated (S-Iron/S-TIBC × 100)…

Assessment of Dietary Intake of Phosphorus in Relation to Tolerable Upper Intake Levels

2018

Consumption of meat and dairy substitute products amongst vegans, vegetarians and pescatarians

2023

Background: An increasing number of people adhere to plant-based diets, and the market for plant-based meat and dairy substitute products has been expanding rapidly.Objective: To examine total intake of macronutrients and salt in a sample of Norwegian vegans, vege-tarians and pescatarians; the consumption frequency of plant-based meat and dairy substitutes and raw ingredients used in these products; and the contribution to total macronutrient and salt intake from these products.Design: A cross-sectional design using single 24-h dietary recall to assess the intake of macronutrients, salt and substitute products that the participants (n = 158 Norway residents [age 18–60 years]: vegans [n = 83…

Assessment of Intake of Nicotinic Acid and Nicotinamide in Relation to Tolerable Upper Intake Levels

2018

Assessment of Iron Intake in Relation to Tolerable Upper Intake Levels

2018

Risk Assessment of "Other Substances" – L-lysine

2020

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet, VKM) has, at the request of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet; NFSA), assessed the risk of "other substances" in food supplements and energy drinks sold in Norway. VKM has assessed the risk of doses given by NFSA. These risk assessments will provide NFSA with the scientific basis while regulating "other substances" in food supplements.
 "Other substances" are described in the food supplement directive 2002/46/EC as substances other than vitamins or minerals that have a nutritional and/ or physiological effect. It is added mainly to food supplements, but also to energy drinks and other…

Assessment of Dietary Intake of Potassium in Relation to Upper Guidance Level

2018

Assessment of Zinc Intake in Relation to Tolerable Upper Intake Levels

2018

Risk Assessment of "Other Substances" – L-alanine

2018

Assessment of selenium intake in relation to tolerable upper intake levels. Opinion of the Panel on Nutrition, Dietetic Products, Novel Food and Alle…

2017

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet, VKM) has, at the request of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet; NFSA), evaluated the intake of selenium in the Norwegian population. VKM has also conducted scenario calculations to illustrate the consequences of amending maximum limits for selenium to 50, 150 or 200 µg/day in food supplements. The existing maximum limit is 100 µg/day.

Assessment of dietary intake of chromium (III) in relation to tolerable upper intake Level. Opinion of the Panel on Nutrition, Dietetic Products, Nov…

2018

Dietary Habits and Self-Reported Health Measures Among Norwegian Adults Adhering to Plant-Based Diets

2022

BackgroundAs plant-based diets is increasing, we aimed to investigate dietary habits, dietary motivation and self-reported health of Norwegian adults who adhere to different types of plant-based diets.MethodsIn 2020, 808 subjects (530 women and 278 men) participated in an online survey, including vegans (8%), lacto-ovo vegetarians (16%), pescatarians (23%), and flexitarians (53%).ResultsHalf of the participants reported to consume fruits daily, three quarters consumed vegetables daily, and one quarter consumed whole grain products daily. Half of the participants reported weekly consumption of sweets and salted snacks, and 10% reported daily consumption of sugary drinks. Daily consumption of…

Assessment of copper intake in relation to tolerable upper intake Levels. Opinion of the Panel on Nutrition, Dietetic Products, Novel Food and Allerg…

2017

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet, VKM) has,at the request of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet; NFSA), evaluated the intake of copper in the Norwegian population in relation to tolerable upper intake levels (ULs). VKM has also conducted scenario calculations to illustrate the consequences of amending maximum limits for copper to 1, 2, or 3, mg/day in food supplements. The existing maximum limit is 4 mg/day.