ID 4471 -
Granatowiec właściwy
PL: Granatowiec właściwy
EN: Pomegranate
Pdf: pomegranate/pomegranate juice
1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika
The food that is the subject of the health claims is pomegranate/pomegranate juice and polyphenols in pomegranate/pomegranate juice.
The information provided (e.g. food, conditions of use) for the majority of the health claims on pomegranate and pomegranate juice refers to the type and/or amount of polyphenols in pomegranate/pomegranate juice that should be consumed daily in order to achieve the claimed effect. The Panel assumes that such phenolic compounds are also mentioned (and occasionally quantified) to allow standardisation of pomegranate juice, for which information on composition and on the manufacturing process has not been provided. In the remaining health claims, reference is made to dried fruit or herb powders for which the information on composition and on the manufacturing process has not been provided.
Polyphenols comprise a very wide group (several thousands of compounds) of plant secondary metabolites including flavonoids, isoflavonoids, phenolic acids, proanthocyanidins and other tannins, and lignans with different biological activities. Polyphenol content in foods is usually expressed as gallic acid equivalents (GAE), but also other phenolic compounds such as catechin/epicatechin or caffeic acid which are used for standardisation. This standardisation refers to traditional spectrophotometrical measurement of total polyphenols using the Folin-Ciocalteau method (Singleton and Rossi, 1965), which is based on reducing capacity. The method is not specific for polyphenols because other reducing compounds such as ascorbic acid, sugars and proteins will also be included in the quantification, thus leading to an overestimation of the actual polyphenol content. The total polyphenol content assessed with this method is not suitable for characterisation of polyphenols in foods.
Regarding the nature of specific polyphenols in pomegranate (Prunus granatum), punicalagin and ellagic acid have been specified in the conditions of use. Punicalagins are tannins that are known to be hydrolysed in vivo into smaller polyphenols such as ellagic acid. Punicalagin and ellagic acid can be measured in foods by established methods. Pomegranate polyphenols are bioavailable (Mertens- Talcott et al., 2006; Seeram et al., 2006).
The Panel considers that, whereas pomegranate/pomegranate juice and polyphenols in pomegranate/pomegranate juice are not sufficiently characterised, the food constituents, punicalagin and ellagic acid in pomegranate/pomegranate juice, which the Panel assumes to be the subject of the health claims, are sufficiently characterised.
2.6. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stężenia glukozy we krwi (ID 4471)
The claimed effect is “glucose metabolism”. 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 glucose concentrations.
The Panel considers that long-term maintenance of normal blood glucose concentrations is a beneficial physiological effect.
3.5. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stężenia glukozy we krwi (ID 4471)
None of the references provided in relation to this claim provided scientific data on the effects of polyphenols (i.e. punicalagin and/or ellagic acid) in pomegranate/pomegranate juice on blood glucose concentrations in humans. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from these references for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of punicalagin/ellagic acid in pomegranate/pomegranate juice and maintenance of normal blood glucose concentrations.
Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia
