Risk assessment of “other substances” - L-cysteine and L-cystine. Opinion of the Panel on Nutrition, Dietetic Products, Novel Food and Allergy of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety

Abstract

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) has, at the request of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, assessed the risk of specified doses of L-cysteine and L-cystine in food supplements. VKM concludes that: • In adolescents (14 to <18 years) and adults (≥18 years), the specified doses 10 mg/day L-cysteine and 250, 500 and 750 mg/day L-cystine in food supplements are considered to be unlikely to cause adverse health effects, whereas the dose 1000 mg L-cystine per day may represent a risk of adverse health effects. • In children (10 to <14 years), the specified doses 10 mg/day L-cysteine and 250 and 500 mg/day L-cystine in food supplements are considered to be unlikely to cause adverse health effects, whereas the doses 750 and 1000 mg L-cystine per day may represent a risk of adverse health effects.