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New EFSA Scientific Opinions on Phytochemicals
11 Apr 2011
Juan Valverde
Last week the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) announced the results of several Scientific Opinions assesing health claims (mainly Article 13) of several products and phytochemical compositions. Among the prodcuts and phytochemicals reviewed where; almonds, quercetin, beta-carotene, lutein, alpha linoleic acid, monomeric flavan-3-ols from apples and phosphorus. The revised health claims of some of these phytochemicals included; Mantenaince of normal blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, protection against oxidative damage of DNA, proteins and lipids, protection againsta UV-induced damage on skin; brain and neourological developement and reduction of tiredness amonsgt others.
Most of the claims were rejected on the basis that the data presented by the health claim applications did not show a clear cause and effect relationship between the dietary intake of these compounds and the health benefit claimed.
Among those claims approved was alpha linoleic acid and its contribution to brain development pursuant to Article 14 which had already been assessed with a favourable outcome recently.
In other cases, such as health claim on Lutein and its capacity to mantain normal vision, had been also previously assesed and the evidence provided was insufficient to establish a cause and effect relationship, between the consumption of lutein and the maintaince of normal vision. The refereces cited in this last application did not provide any additional scientific data that could be used to substantiate the claim.
For further details on the scientific opinions please click the links below:
Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to almonds and maintenance of normal blood LDL cholesterol concentrations (ID 1131) and maintenance of normal erectile function (ID 2482) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006
Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to quercetin and protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage (ID 1647), "cardiovascular system" (ID 1844), "mental state and performance" (ID 1845), and "liver, kidneys" (ID 1846) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006
Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to beta carotene and protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage (ID 19, 197, 1262, 1460), protection of the skin from UV-induced (including photo-oxidative) damage (ID 178, 197, 1263, 1461, 1968, 2320) and maintenance of the normal function of the immune system (ID 200, 1462) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006
Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to lutein and protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage (ID 3427), protection of the skin from UV-induced (including photo oxidative) damage (ID 1605, 1779) and maintenance of normal vision (ID 1779, 2080) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006
Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to alpha linolenic acid (ALA) and brain and neurological development (ID 491), "molecule precursors regulating cell functions" (ID 492, 4671), maintenance of normal cardiac function (ID 509, 579), "nutrient tasks and interactions" (ID 576), maintenance of normal blood pressure (ID 575), and enhancement of mood (ID 578, 601, 3182) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006
Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to monomeric flavan-3-ols from apples and improvement of endothelium-dependent vasodilation (ID 1936) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006
Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to phosphorus and reduction of tiredness and fatigue (ID 323) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006
