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Hand-painted illustration of quinoa, almonds, bananas, chickpeas, spinach, egg and pumpkin seeds.

How nutrition works

Muscle function

The normal function of muscles – from contraction to relaxation.

Normal muscle function requires, among other things, an adequate supply of minerals. For some nutrients this contribution is an authorised health claim in the EU.

Nutrients & foods

  • Evidence: strong

    Banana

    • The potassium in bananas contributes to normal muscle function. [1][2][3]

      Authorised EU claim

  • Evidence: strong

    Magnesium

    • Magnesium contributes to normal muscle function. [1][4][5]

      Authorised EU claim

  • Evidence: strong

    Potassium

    • Potassium contributes to normal muscle function. [1][6]

      Authorised EU claim

Sources

  1. 01European Commission · 2012Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 establishing a list of permitted health claims made on foods, other than those referring to the reduction of disease risk and to children's development and healthOpen source
  2. 02European Parliament and Council of the European Union · 2011Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumersOpen source
  3. 03U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service – FoodData Central · 2019Bananas, raw (FDC ID 173944, SR Legacy)Open source
  4. 04EFSA Journal · 2009Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to magnesium and electrolyte balance, energy-yielding metabolism, neurotransmission and muscle contraction including heart muscle, cell division, maintenance of bone, maintenance of teeth, blood coagulation and protein synthesis pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006DOI 10.2903/j.efsa.2009.1216
  5. 05EFSA Journal · 2010Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to magnesium, including reduction of tiredness and fatigue and contribution to normal psychological functionsDOI 10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1807
  6. 06National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary SupplementsPotassium - Health Professional Fact SheetOpen source