VITAMINS

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Based on the Cabinet decision on June 14, 2013 indicated in Japan's Revitalization Strategy, Consumer Affairs Agency in the government of Japan has commenced studies on the new functionality labeling system for foods including agricultural, forestry and fishery products that "describes functionalities based on scientific evidence, quality and safety confirmation under corporate responsibility", referring to the US dietary supplement labeling system. Industries in the US are permitted by law to make structure/function claims for dietary supplements including vitamins, which describe their effects on the structure or function of the body, the biological mechanism, a benefit related to a nutrient deficient diseases or general well-being from the consumption of a nutrient or ingredient. Structure/function claims must be supported by credible scientific evidence and be truthful and not misleading. When used to promote a dietary supplement, the claim must be accompanied by a disclaimer "has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)" and that it is "not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease". FDA has exclusive jurisdiction over the safety of dietary supplements and primary responsibility for claims on product labeling. Structure/function claims are not drug claims, but using dietary supplements and public awareness has indicated a possibility of significant medical cost reduction in the US. It is strongly suggested that expected reduction of both health problems and medical cost could improve quality of life.

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The phosphate (Pi)-mediated signal transduction pathways in renal proximal tubular cells and endothelial cells were examined, because Pi depletion and overloading are known to influence gene expression and cellular function. In renal proximal tubular calls (LLC-PK1), Pi depletion resulted in increases in intracellular inositol triphosphate (IP3) and calcium ion (Ca^<2+>) levels, the latter of which may be associated with the maintenance of Pi homeostasis. On the other hand, exposing bovine aortic endothelial cells to excessive Pi load increased production of reactive oxygen species, which depended on phosphorus influx via sodium-dependent phosphate transporters, and decreased nitric oxide production via inhibitory phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Pi loading in rat aortic rings inhibited endothelium-dependent vasodilation. A high dietary Pi load in human subjects increased serum Pi level at 2 h and significantly decreased flow-mediated dilation. Thus, it was found that the function of endothelial cells was damaged by the high dietary Pi loading. Taken together, these findings suggest that the changes in serum Pi level are associated with human health by affecting the intracellular Pi signal transduction pathway.

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The New Health/Functional Claims System in Japan was enforced on April 1st, 2015. This 3^<rd> category of functional foods is tentatively named as "Food with Function Claims" in English. It was classified into FHC (Foods with Health Claims) and the non-approval system by government like the structure/function system in US under DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health Education Act). It was defined at the Food Labelling Standards in the Food Labelling Act of Cabinet. The main concepts for development of the new health/functional claims are the followings: ・It should be developed that both fresh and processed foods including dietary/food supplement can make health/functional claims. ・Food business operators are responsible for safety assessment and scientific substantiation on the health/functional claims, similar to structure/function claims of the dietary supplement system in US. On the contrary, vitamins are not applicable to this new system due to health and nutrition policy. As one of the members of The Vitamin Society of Japan, I can't understand this issue. From the scientific points of view, the future task and action for this new health claims system and international comparison of health claims of vitamins will be introduced.

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