On June 7, we held a brainstorming meeting with the members of the ICAAS Scientific Advisory Committee (ICAAS SAC).

The meeting started our preparations for the 10th Amino Acid Assessment Workshop sponsored by ICAAS. The provisional date for the Workshop was set on November 19-20, 2019 in Tokyo (Japan). The Workshop will be focusing on safety of human intake of essential amino acids histidine, lysine and methionine. As many as 50 invited experts from many countries of the world will gather to both discuss recent clinical studies and to propose the upper limits of safe intake.

Proceedings of the Workshop are to be published in J. Nutrition by mid-2020.

The attached photo shows (from-left-to-right), Dr. Hideki Matsumoto (Ajinomoto Co.), Mr. Jeff Smith (Evonik Co.), Profs. Patrick Stover, Sidney Morris, Dennis Bier, Motoni Kadowaki, Luc Cynober, Rajavel Elango, Mr. Ryusuke Nakagiri (Kyowa Hakko Co.) and Dr. Miro Smriga (ICAAS)

Thu, 2018-03-22
On March 22, ICAAS members will gather in Prague (Czech Republic) for the 2018 ICAAS annual board and general meetings. The participants discussed scientific activity conducted during 2017, activity plan for 2018 and the budget for the 10th Amino Acid Assessment Workshop.

Viviana Spaghetti from The Whitehouse Consultancy gave a presentation on the impact of Brexit on food and food ingredients, which the participants found useful and interesting.

Wed, 2017-06-21
ICAAS was invited as speaker to the “2017 KoSFoST International Symposium and Annual Meeting” held on June 21-23, 2017 at ICC Jeju, Republic of Korea.

Miro Smriga, ICAAS CEO, represented ICAAS at this event by giving a presentation on the physiological functionality of food-added MSG with an specific focus on the gastrointestinal system.

Mon, 2017-06-12
ICAAS was invited to make a keynote lecture and Dr. Michael Rogers (ICAAS President) provided a simultaneously translated lecture entitled “International Scientific and Regulatory Update on Amino Acid use by Humans”. Besides summarizing the global regulatory developments and ICAAS science effort, Dr. Rogers also emphasized that ICAAS wished to broaden and deepen its cooperation with appropriate Chinese regulatory bodies to foster safer and more effective use of amino acids in China.

On the occasion of the Symposium, Dr. Rogers was invited to visit the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The Institute is equipped with state of the art laboratories and is forging mutually beneficial joint research programmes. Future contacts and involvement in the upcoming 10th AAAW are envisioned.

Thu, 2016-11-10
ICAAS was invited to speak on amino acid specifications and safety at the 4th Asia Pacific Food Safety Conference. About 400 people participated in this Conference mostly from Asian companies, universities and national ministries of health and agriculture..

Miro Smriga, ICAAS CEO, presented an invited lecture on amino acid use and safety, focusing on both nutritional deficiencies of essential amino acids as well as ICAAS work with specifications and upper limits.

2016-11-11 ICAAS invitation to speak at the 4th Asia Pacific Food Safety Conference, Penang, Malaysia

Tue, 2016-10-11
Penang, Malaysia
ICAAS is invited to speak on amino acid specifications and safety at the 4th Asia Pacific Food Safety Conference, taking place from 11 to 13 October in Penang, Malaysia.

Miro Smriga, ICAAS CEO, will present a paper on the safety of amino acids as essential building blocks of human nutrition, 12 October, 12:05 – 12:30.

Astract

For more information, on the conference and to register: http://www.apacfoodsafety2016.com/

Wed, 2016-08-17
Daegu, Republic of Korea
ICAAS participated in the Korean Amino Acid Industry Academic Symposium session at the 2016 KoSFoST (Korean Society of Food Science and Technology) International Symposium and Annual Meeting in Daegu, Republic of Korea from 17 to 19 August. The theme of this International Symposium was “Food Science for Daily Living via Innovation and Convergence”.

Miro Smriga, ICAAS CEO, spoke about the differences between central sensing of dietary glutamate and the brain glutamate neurotransmission. Other speakers focused more on amino acid used in enteral and parenteral nutrition and also on the applications of arginine, lysine and glutamate to formulate flavors.

Tue, 2016-03-22
Vienna
22 March 2016: ICAAS General Assembly,Vienna

On March 22, ICAAS members gathered in Vienna (Austria) for the 2016 ICAAS annual board and general meetings. The participants discussed scientific activity conducted during 2015, especially ICAAS-sponsored clinical studies of arginine and leucine. Also, the members analyzed the “9th Amino Acid Assessment Workshop” (Paris, Oct. 2015) including the impact that Workshop may have upon future use of arginine, leucine and tryptophan in human nutrition.

In addition, the ICAAS members reviewed ongoing regulatory issues world-wide and discussed activity plan for 2016. Among others, attention was paid to the cooperation with US Pharmacopeia in order to modernize FCC monographs for branched-chain amino acids, as well as to regulatory activity in Brazil, Europe and China.

Vienna provided a splendid background for the whole meeting and the participants agreed to meet again next year in Asia.

Thu, 2015-11-26
Malaysia
On 26th Nov. 2015, ICAAS Japan sponsored and organized in Putrajaya (Malaysia) a Workshop entitled “Actual status and efforts in amino acid and protein nutrition for children in ASEAN countries”.

This event was one of the disseminating activities initiated by the “Science of Breast Feeding in Asia” (2013). The Workshop was chaired by Dr. Fumio Endo (Kumamoto University, Japan) and started with an excellent lecture by Dr. Shiro Matsumoto (Kumamoto Univ.), who was one of the original organizers of the “Science of Breast Feeding in Asia”. This time, he presented on “Clinical treatment and biomarker profile with amino acids”.

The main focus of the Workshop in Putrajaya was on branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and therefore ICAAS Japan gladly welcomed Dr. Yoshiharu Shimomura (Nagoya University, Japan) who is the Vice-President of Japan Society of Nutrition and Food Science and one of the world leading BCAA experts. His lecture was entitled, “Physiological functions of BCAA as the essential nutrients and the safety as supplements”.

Prof. Shimomura’s message on the safety and efficacy of BCAAs made a great impact on the invited regulatory authorities and academic participants from several southeast Asian countries. The Workshop successfully ended by discussion on the current status of BCAA research and amino acid use across the ASEAN region.

Very importantly, ICAAS Japan also organized an educational seminar on amino acids, specifically for the members of the Ministry of Health of Malaysia. ICAAS Japan members invited expert speakers from abroad to help the Ministry experts in understanding the framework of amino acid uses.

Sat, 2015-06-27
Shinagwwam Tokyo
On the 27th of June, ICAAS Japan branch hold the 20th memorial Amino Acid Seminar in Shinagawa, Tokyo. More than 60 amino acid experts from academia and medical practice participated in the event.

Three original lectures (see below) were held, focusing on physiological functions of small food peptides and relationship between amino acids and adult disease. Special attention was put on the role of amino acid in nutrition of elderly and in promotion of healthy aging.

After the session, ICAAS Japan organized a party celebrating all twenty previous Seminars making a ground for continuous networking among amino acid experts in Japan.

Lectures:
Origin of essential amino acids: The revolution of nutrition and the origin of essentiality of amino acids-
by Dr. Hiroaki Oda,
Department of Applied Molecular Biosciences at Nagoya University

Physiological function of peptides derived from food through the hormones in digestive tubes. by Dr. Hiroshi Hara Research Group of Food Science Laboratory of Nutritional Biochemistry

Relationship between amino acids and adult diseases: A goal for a society of healthy longevity – by Dr. Osamu Tochikubo
Yokohama City University Graduate school of Medicine

Wed, 2015-06-03
The Korean Society for Food Science and Technology has invited ICAAS to make a general introduction to amino acid science intended for the participants in the Annual Meeting (June 3-5; Busan (South Korea)).

Dr. Miro Smriga presented the outline of ICAAS activities and talked about the key amino acids, their nutritional benefits, requirement levels and safety. About 100 participants, from diverse Korean food and pharmaceutical companies participated in the presentation and asked numerous questions related to food/dietary supplement applications of amino acids. Key questions were directed to sport applications, sarcopenia, as well as some semi-essential amino acids such as arginine and glutamine.

Fri, 2015-02-20
Tokyo
The next ICAAS AGM will take place in Tokyo on Friday, 20th February 2014

Thu, 2015-11-26
Malaysia
On 26th Nov. 2015, ICAAS Japan sponsored and organized in Putrajaya (Malaysia) a Workshop entitled “Actual status and efforts in amino acid and protein nutrition for children in ASEAN countries”.

This event was one of the disseminating activities initiated by the “Science of Breast Feeding in Asia” (2013). The Workshop was chaired by Dr. Fumio Endo (Kumamoto University, Japan) and started with an excellent lecture by Dr. Shiro Matsumoto (Kumamoto Univ.), who was one of the original organizers of the “Science of Breast Feeding in Asia”. This time, he presented on “Clinical treatment and biomarker profile with amino acids”.

The main focus of the Workshop in Putrajaya was on branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and therefore ICAAS Japan gladly welcomed Dr. Yoshiharu Shimomura (Nagoya University, Japan) who is the Vice-President of Japan Society of Nutrition and Food Science and one of the world leading BCAA experts. His lecture was entitled, “Physiological functions of BCAA as the essential nutrients and the safety as supplements”.

Prof. Shimomura’s message on the safety and efficacy of BCAAs made a great impact on the invited regulatory authorities and academic participants from several southeast Asian countries. The Workshop successfully ended by discussion on the current status of BCAA research and amino acid use across the ASEAN region.

Very importantly, ICAAS Japan also organized an educational seminar on amino acids, specifically for the members of the Ministry of Health of Malaysia. ICAAS Japan members invited expert speakers from abroad to help the Ministry experts in understanding the framework of amino acid uses.

Fri, 2015-02-20
Tokyo
The 2015 ICAAS General Annual Meeting was organized in Courtyard Marriott Tokyo Station Hotel (Tokyo, Japan) on February 20. Directors and representatives of the member companies participated in the meeting to discuss activity during the last year as well as new strategic directions for 2015. The main attention was given to the expanding research projects on amino acids safety (arginine, leucine and methionine clinical studies), upcoming 9th Amino Acid Assessment Workshop sponsored by ICAAS (Oct. 15-16, 2015) and ICAAS involvement in TIMES consortium applying for the EU Horizon 2020 research grant (nutrition for elderly). In addition, the participants discussed regulatory hurdles in several regions, notably EU and Brazil and exchanged information on amino acid specifications. The next (2016) Annual Meeting is planned for February 2016 in Europe.

Thu, 2014-08-21
Brazilia, Brazil
On August 21, ICAAS co-organized with the Brazilian Ministry of Health (ANVISA) a day-long Workshop focused on safety and quality of amino acids (Brasilia, Brazil). The Workshop was attended by almost 120 members of the local industry, trade associations and government officials.
Academic speakers (Profs. J. Fernstrom (Pittsburg, USA), C. Moinard (Paris, France) and Y.Shimomura (Nagoya, Japan)) summarized clinical safety data for 14 most used amino acids, while Dr. M. Smriga (ICAAS) emphasized the importance of quality control and purity in ensuring safe intake of amino acids from supplements.
From the ANVISA side, Ms. A. Aquino (Director, ANVISA) clearly explained the current regulatory practice in Brazil and the upcoming revisions to Brazilian dietary supplement, sport nutrition and novel food laws. Most of the final discussion focused on how to regulate amino acids in Brazil.
We believe that this event will contribute to proportional and positive rules for the safe use of amino acids in foods and supplement in Brazil; ensuring that only beneficial products are on the shelves.

Fri, 2014-02-28
New York City, New York, USA
The 9th annual general meeting of ICAAS was held in downtown New York City on February 28. The participating member companies approved a new budget and decided on the 2014 -2015 action plan that includes ambitious scientific projects as well as specific regulatory and quality steps around the world.

Tue, 2013-11-19
Shanghai, China

An International Amino Acid Symposium was organized on 19 November 2013 in Shanghai (China). The Symposium was sponsored by ICAAS and the Chinese Biotech Fermentation Industry Association (CBFIA). Real Nutriceuticals Ltd., the main local coordinator, played a major role in boosting the event with over 200 participants from the biotechnology and food industries, The Chinese media including two TV stations also reported the situation.
The symposium began with a talk on the current state of the Chinese amino acid industry by Mr. Shi (CBFIA chairman).
He emphasized that China’s amino acid production in 2012 reached 3.3 million tonnes, including an increase of more than 90% in sodium glutamate and lysine (up 10% annually). He also needs other examples of success, as well as the need to increase production of various types of amino acids, lack of leadership in R & D, delays in modernization of equipment, and insufficient internationalization. I pointed out that it was a problem.
Following this, Dr. Rogers introduced ICAAS, and Dr. Smriga focused on ICAAS’s efforts on human amino acid quality standards and safety.

Mr. Wang (Chairman of Real Nutritional Co., Ltd.) explained the problem of amino acid sales in China, and Professor Chen (Tianjin University of Science and Technology) explained the lack of amino acid standards in China and the revision of food laws affecting the use of amino acids. I clearly pointed out the problems represented by.
Highlights of the event are academic presentations (created by Prof. Elango (Canada) and Morris (USA), ICAAS advisors, and Dr. Jian (China Amino Acid Technical Service Centre). It focused on efficacy, safety and productivity.
This symposium attracted the interest of Chinese media including national television stations and Chinese national newspapers, and was able to contribute to the promotion of amino acid quality control in a dynamic large market. In addition, “Amino Acids – Root of Health”, a book written by Mr. Wang and Dr. Wu (former director of the China Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry Association), was introduced to mark the end of the event.

Sun, 2013-10-06
Galveston, Texas, USA

ICAAS organized and hosted a symposium on aging and amino acid metabolism on October 6, 2013 in Galveston, Texas. This symposium was the highlight of the 13th International Conference on Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins, with around 100 experts from around the world participating. Prof. Luc Cynober (Paris) and Prof. Dennis Bier (Houston), ICAAS scientific advisors, chaired a four-hour presentation and discussion. The symposium began with a review of current scientific literature on the effectiveness and safety of amino acid supplementation for the elderly by Prof. Naomi Fukagawa (Burlington, Vermont). It has been shown that the need for individual amino acids and their potential to change with age is generally poorly understood.
Prof. Elena Volpi (A & M University, Texas) explained his research on both amino acids and proteins, and touched on the appropriate timing of daily amino acid intake. Dr. Morley (St. Louis, Missouri) explained current field definitions and objective endpoint issues, and Dr. Wayne Campbell (West Lafayette, Indiana) provided a detailed view on the upper limit of intake of protein/amino acids for older and frail individuals. Talked in detail about the lack of data. Finally, Prof. Phil Atherton (Nottingham, UK) gave an overview of the research that is currently underway using essential amino acids. Finally, Prof. Atherton explained the effects of maintaining muscle mass in the elderly by comparing amino acids and proteins. According to him, amino acids are cheaper than proteins and can be compared to the proper metabolism and protein as an alternative to all proteins. The last discussion pointed out that studies on the effects of amino acids on non-muscles in the elderly, such as those related to cognitive ability and maintenance of the immune system, are lacking. The direction was pointed out.

Thu, 2013-02-28
Frankfurt, Germany

On February 28, 2013, the ICAAS Annual General Meeting was held at the Frankfurt Marriott Hotel in Frankfurt, Germany. ICAAS President, CEO, Secretariat and 16 representatives from member companies discussed the previous year’s activity report and the 2013 activity plan. Among the planned activities in 2013, a symposium during the 13th International Conference on Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins (Galveston, Texas, October 6, 2013) was decided, and also an active involvement of ICAAS in promoting safe use of high-quality amino acids in the People’s Republic of China. It was agreed to proceed with a joint project with the China Biotech Fermentation Industry Association (CBFIA). Much of the discussion at this meeting was about current scientific research and plans.
At the end of the annual meeting, a representative of the European Commission gave a presentation on the regulatory framework for genetically modified organisms, and the 2013 official dinner was held.

Fri, 2012-03-02
Tokyo

At the 2012 Annual Conference (Tokyo, March 2), Professor Katsumi Shibata (Shiga Prefectural University) and Professor Hisanori Kato (University of Tokyo) gave lectures on research on the upper limit of tryptophan and leucine to ICAAS members and guests. He stressed that the amino acids under study must be taken in a normal diet because they are nutritionally essential.
Regarding the upper limit, Dr. Shibata examined tryptophan doses in several healthy women and evaluated a wide range of tryptophan metabolites. Based on the saturation of urinary excretion of 3-hydroxykynurenine, he proposed the first metabolic upper limit for supplementation of tryptophan in foods and dietary supplements.
Dr. Kato first emphasized that the side effects of excessive amino acid consumption depend on the level of protein in the diet. He explained the study of leucine supplementation in rodents using new experimental techniques such as transcriptomics and metabolomics. According to Professor Kato’s genetic marker panel, the conclusion was that the NOAEL dose at low protein (6%) in male rats was 2% (w / w) leucine dietary supplementation. In addition, he said that “omics” integrated analysis is a powerful tool for assessing large intakes of a single amino acid

Dr Shibata

Abstract:
On November 29, a presentation on ICAAS scientific activities as well as amino acids regulations in the USA and European Union was made by Dr. Miro Smriga (ICAAS, CEO) in Lima, Peru. Thirty-five participants from the Peruvian food industry and the Ministry of Health of Peru attended the 1-hour-long presentation.Questions ranged from intake pattern of various amino acids to quality control of both food additives and amino acids in supplements. Some participants also debated the effectiveness of branched-chain amino acids and arginine in health and disease. Several participants expressed interest in the value of essential amino acids to improve value of protein nutrition in rural areas of Peru.

Thu, 2011-09-29
European Parliament, Strasbourg, France
Risk governance has changed remarkably over the last 100 years or so and continues to evolve form a purely reactive process based on demonstrated, significant levels of harms, to processes which attempt to counter future harm by making the risk governance more precautionary in nature.

However, the current EU regulation tendency is to move from precaution towards better or smarter regulation as part of the regulatory impact assessment programme. The reform of comitology (new article 291) and the inter-institutional agreement have changed the dynamic and the regulatory interplay between the EU institutions;
This workshop includes contributions from STOA and the JURI and ENVI committees of the European Parliament, as well as from the European Commission and external experts on risk governance.

Mon, 2011-05-09
Quebec, Canada

The 39th meeting of the Food Standards Committee on Food Labeling (CCFL) was held in Quebec, Canada on May 9-13, 2011. Numerous observers from representatives of 100 member countries and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) participated. The committee addressed key issues related to food labeling, including food produced by new biotechnology.
in this meeting, the Committee has proposed a coordinating document with the Food Standards Committee (CAC) on the labeling of food produced by the new biotechnology for the adoption of step 5.8. In addition, we discussed the sodium / salt label and nutrients and claims.

On December 17, the Japanese chapter of ICAAS organized in Tokyo a 3-hour-long scientific seminar devoted to selected amino acids. Fifty participants were welcomed by the secretary of ICAAS Japan (Mr. Kobayashi), and thereafter attentively listened to a lecture on tryptophan metabolism and higher brain function, given by Professor Hiroshi Funakoshi from the Osaka University, Graduate School of Medicine.

Professor Funakoshi concentrated mainly on the role of the tryptophan metabolite, tryptophan　2,3-dioxygenase (TDO); the key enzyme in tryptophan metabolism in the brain. Recent studies indicate that TDO accelerates neurogenesis and emotional control.

Thereafter, Professor Toshio Hayashi from Nagoya University, School of Medicine described the recent research on effects of citrulline and arginine in arteriosclerosis using both rabbit and transgenic mouse models he developed a hypothesis that the positive effects of both citrulline and arginine in animal models of arteriosclerosis may be related to nitric oxide production. Both presentations were followed by lively discussion and a small social function.

King’s College, London
Following recent major food safety management issues, such as BSE in cattle and dioxin contamination, food RM has become increasingly precautionary, moving from “modern” RM to “post-modern” RM.

The EU General Food Law of 2002 has been followed by regulations on ingredients, novel ingredients, additives and supplements and horizontal regulations on consumer information and health claims. Thus recent regulatory initiatives aim at controlling health-benefit claims for supplements and fortified foods, and setting upper supplement intake limits. However, it is found that the major risk to the consumer arises from inadequate quality controls rather that potential overdose or misinformation. Specific amino acids have been used to improve sport performance, to enhance the quality of protein, improve immune functions, reduce stress, etc.

The International Council on Amino Acid Science (ICAAS) was set up to address problems such as upper limits and quality standards and to contribute to the risk governance process. ICAAS sponsored research has indicated that the major amino acids have a high margin of safety and that upper limits cannot be established using conventional risk assessment methods. The reason for this arises from a well-controlled homeostasis of amino acids in the human body, since they are not only elements of a normal diet but also make up a substantial part of human tissue. ICAAS is currently devoting attention to establishing globally applicable specification standards on amino acids used in the human food supply. The research results should contribute to the evolving risk governance in this field.

Presentation – Dr. Michael Rogers, ICAAS President
The Abstract