ID 4041 - Liściokwiat garbnikowy

PL: Liściokwiat garbnikowy
EN: Emblica officinalis (common name : Amla)
Pdf: various food(s)/food constituent(s) not supported by pertinent human data

1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika

The food that is the subject of the health claims is “Emblica officinalis fruit rind”.
Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (synonym of the species Phyllanthus emblica L., also know as Indian gooseberry) is a tree of the Phyllanthaceae family (genus Phyllanthus) and it is known for its edible, round, light green fruits of the same name. The proposed conditions of use refer to powder and aqueous extract (ID 4041, 4042) and to raw fruit and raw fruit extract (ID 4041). The Panel notes that no information on the composition or manufacturing process of the powder and aqueous extract, or of the raw fruit extract, has been provided. However, the Panel notes that, from the references provided (Jacob et al., 1988), the raw fruit of Emblica officinalis Gaertn. can be characterised for its content of ascorbic acid, pectins, tannins and fibre in relation to the claimed effects.
The Panel considers that the food, the raw fruit of Emblica officinalis Gaertn., which is the subject of the health claims, is sufficiently characterised in relation to the claimed effects.

2.1. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stężenia cholesterolu LDL we krwi (ID 4041)

The claimed effect is “cardiovascular”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
In the context of the proposed wordings, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to the maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations.
Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) carry cholesterol from the liver to peripheral tissues, including the arteries. Elevated LDL-cholesterol, by convention >160 mg/dL (>4.14 mmol/L), may compromise the normal structure and function of the arteries.
The Panel considers that maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations is a beneficial physiological effect.

3.1. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stężenia cholesterolu LDL we krwi (ID 4041)

Among the references provided were a number of textbooks and monographs which did not provide any original data for the scientific substantiation of the claim. One narrative review on antioxidant properties was not related to the claimed effect. A number of references provided were in Japanese and the translation into a EU language was not available to the Panel. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from these references for the scientific substantiation of the claim.
One reference reported on an uncontrolled human intervention study which investigated the effect of 50 g of the raw fruit Emblica officinalis Gaertn. consumed for four weeks on total, HDL- and LDL-blood cholesterol concentrations in 20 hypercholesterolaemic and 15 normocholesterolaemic subjects (Jacob et al., 1988). The Panel notes that this study was uncontrolled and considers that no conclusions can be drawn from this study for the scientific substantiation of the claim.
The Panel notes that no human studies have been provided from which conclusions can be drawn for the scientific substantiation of the claim. The Panel considers that evidence provided in animal and in vitro studies is not sufficient to predict the occurrence of an effect of Emblica officinalis Gaertn. consumption on maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations in vivo in humans.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of the raw fruit of Emblica officinalis Gaertn. and maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations.

Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia

Powder 3-0.2 g/day; aqueous extra 1.5-0.1 g/day All over 2 years old: 2-4 years ¼ adult dose, 4-10 years half adult dose