The applicability of the ADI (Acceptable Daily Intake) for food additives to infants and children

Abstract

Children are not little adults. Children may respond differently from adults because they are in a state of growth and development; or because of differences in toxicokinetics or toxicodynamics. Infants and children are often assumed to be more susceptible to toxic effects, but this generalization is founded on assumptions rather than on facts. Available data are mostly concerned with toxicity and therapeutic effects of pharmaceuticals, while the effects in children of industrial chemicals are less well documented. Childhood is characterized by growth and development. Toxicants may interfere with these processes, and therefore toxic exposure may have more serious consequences for children than for adults, irrespective of sensitivity. Immature physiological functions of the foetus and young child theoretically make these age groups more vulnerable to toxicants, at least up to 1 year of age. The existing data on effects of chemical exposure in children point in the direction that susceptibility depends on the substance and on the exposure situation. For a particular compound children may be more sensitive than adults, or they may be less sensitive. Further, the sensitivity of children to a particular substance varies greatly with age. It is necessary to view premature neonates, neonates, infants, and children of different ages as separate risk groups. The long-term studies used as the basis for establishing ADIs cover lifetime for laboratory animals. Methods which have special emphasis on reproductive cells, on the foetus, and on the immature organism are used. Taken together, these studies cover exposure during all life stages. However, some specific types of effects, and delayed effects of perinatal exposure are not always included in standard toxicity test protocols. Exposure may also differ between children and adults. The food intake of children is qualitatively and quantitatively different form that of adults, and the EU Scientific Committee for Food has recommended that intake assessment of children be considered separately from that of adults because patterns of consumption are different. The ADI should cover the entire population including children. Special considerations regarding the use of food additives do apply to infants below the age of 12 weeks, who depend entirely on infant formula for nutrition.

Food additives and preschool children

“…Children are not little adults (71) ; they have different dietary requirements and sensitivities as outlined earlier.…”

An integrated approach to the safety assessment of food additives in early life

“…[7][8][9] Taking these considerations together, an ADI derived for the general population is generally not applicable to young infants of <12 weeks of age. [10][11][12] Since, generally, additives that are used in infant foods are already approved for use in foods for the adult population, with few novel additives currently being considered, this paper explores the challenges to adequately address knowledge gaps in conventional toxicological data packages to support the safety of extending the uses as an additive in infant foods. Six additives [citric acid esters of mono-and diglycerides of fatty acids (CITREM, INS 472c), starch sodium octenyl succinic (INS 1450), carrageenan (INS 407), locust bean gum (INS 410), xanthan gum (INS 415), and pectin (INS 440)] have recently been presented by the specialized nutrition industry to Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) for evaluating their use in infant formulas, taking into account recommendations for life stage-specific animal models.…”

Análise de sulfitos em sucos de frutas e estimativa de seu consumo por escolares

“…Embora o conceito de IDA tenha sido desenvolvido originalmente para os aditivos alimentares, atualmente ele também é aplicado aos pesticidas e aos resíduos veterinários; já a TDI, conceito similar, é aplicada a contaminantes com meia vida biológica curta (WALKER, 1998 A IDA não pode ser aplicada em crianças com idade inferior a 12 semanas devido à adaptação do metabolismo e ao fato de que se preconiza a alimentação somente por meio do aleitamento materno, sendo, ainda, proibida a adição de aditivos às fórmulas infantis (LAWRIE, 1998;OSTERGAARD & KNUDSEN, 1998;WALKER, 1998 Teórica -IDMT) dos aditivos pode ser calculada e expressa em mg/kg pc/dia (peso corporal médio = 60 kg) e depois comparada com a IDA expressa na mesma unidade. Quando a razão TMDI/IDA é menor que 1 para um determinado aditivo, não há um padrão de segurança com relação a esse aditivo para o consumidor (VERGER et al 1998;CADBY, 1996).…”

“…Apesar de vários estudos (LECLERCQ et al 2000;LARSEN & PASCAL, 1998;OSTERGAARD & KNUDSEN, 1998;RENWICK, 1996) demonstrarem que, quase sempre, serem os indivíduos que consomem grandes quantidades dos alimentos adicionados deste aditivo os mais expostos ao risco de alcançarem ou ultrapassarem a IDA, ainda há necessidade de estudos que monitorem periodicamente as quantidades de aditivos utilizados pela indústria de alimentos e as quantidades realmente consumidas pela população e que avaliem as quantidades efetivamente presentes nos alimentos adicionados de aditivos.…”

“…A investigação da toxicidade dos aditivos requer a realização de diversos estudos (GANDARA, LOZANO & LOSADA, 1989 & KNUDSEN, 1998;WALKER, 1998;WHO, 1996;WHO, 1991).…”