Risk assessment of "other substances" – L-arginine and arginine alpha-ketoglutarate. Opinion of the Panel on Nutrition, dietetic products, Novel Food an Allergy of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety.

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-arginine and arginine alpha-ketoglutarate in food supplements. VKM concludes that:

• In adults (≥18 years), the specified doses of 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 5000, 5500 and 6000 mg/day of arginine in food supplements are considered unlikely to cause adverse health effects. The dose 6800 mg/day may represent a risk of adverse health effects.
• In adolescents (14 to <18 years), the specified doses 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 5000, 5500 mg/day L-arginine in food supplements are considered unlikely to cause adverse health effects, whereas the doses 6000 and 6800 mg/day may represent a risk of adverse health effects.
• In children (10 to <14 years), the specified doses 3000 and 3500 mg/day L-arginine in food supplements are considered unlikely to cause adverse health effects, whereas the doses 4000, 4500, 5000, 5500, 6000 and 6800 mg/day may represent a risk of adverse health effect.

No dosage of arginine alpha-ketoglutarate in food supplements can be evaluated, due to lack of data.