ID 809 - Błonnik z buraków cukrowych

PL: Błonnik z buraków cukrowych
EN: Sugar beet fibre
Pdf: sugar beet fibre

Oświadczenie (2)

1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika

The food constituent that is the subject of the health claims is sugar beet fibre.
The term “sugar beet fibre” includes fibre derived from all plants of the species Beta vulgaris L. Sugar beet fibre contains hemicelluloses (22-32 %), pectins (22-29 %), cellulose (19-28 %), protein (5 %), ash (3 %) and moisture (7 %). The presence of both soluble and insoluble polysaccharides is roughly in a 2:1 ratio (Thibault et al., 2001). The lignin content is low.
The Panel considers that the food constituent, sugar beet fibre, which is the subject of the health claims, is sufficiently characterised in relation to the claimed effects.

2.3. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stężenia cholesterolu LDL we krwi (ID 809)

The claimed effect is “contributes to healthy cholesterol levels”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
In the context of the information provided, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect relates 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 (>4.1 mmol/L), may compromise the normal structure and function of the arteries.
The Panel considers that maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations is a beneficial physiological effect.

3.3. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stężenia cholesterolu LDL we krwi (ID 809)

The references provided included reviews and book chapters on the effects of dietary fibre in general, as well as human and animal studies on specific dietary fibres other than sugar beet fibre and/or on outcomes other than measures of blood cholesterol concentrations. The latter were references on the effects of sugar beet fibre on constipation, colonic function, management of the metabolic syndrome, and bowel function. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from these references for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect.
Three human intervention studies were presented for the substantiation of this claim.
Israelsson et al. (1993) conducted a placebo-controlled, cross-over study in 30 hypercholesterolaemic women who consumed 30 g/day of sugar beet fibre or placebo for four weeks each in a random order after a one-month run-in period in the context of a moderate low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. Sugar-beet and placebo supplements (containing 3.5 % fibre by weight) were administered either as crumbs or as bread in the context of meals in 5 g portions, each containing 3 g of sugar-beet fibre in the
intervention. A significant reduction in LDL-cholesterol concentrations (-6.5 %) and in the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio (-13.5 %) was observed during the sugar beet fibre intervention compared to placebo.
Cossack and Musaiger (1991) studied 10 desert nomads who, after a baseline period of two weeks, consumed 36 g/day of sugar beet fibre for five weeks, followed by a second baseline period of four weeks. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from this uncontrolled study for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect.
In a placebo-controlled, randomised cross-over study, 12 patients with type 2 diabetes consumed sugar beet fibre (40 g/day) or placebo for eight weeks each (Hagander et al., 1989). No significant differences on total or LDL-cholesterol concentrations were observed between the sugar beet fibre and the placebo interventions during the study. The Panel notes the small number of subjects included in this study.
Sugar-beet fibre contains 22-29 % pectins by weight. The blood cholesterol-lowering effect observed in the study by Israelsson et al. (1993), where 30 g/day of sugar beet fibre were consumed daily (containing about 6 g/day of pectins), is in the range of what could be expected from the consumption of 6 g/day of pectins. As for other water-soluble fibres, the effect of pectins on blood (LDL-) cholesterol concentrations is likely to depend on its viscosity, which reduces the reabsorption of bile acids, increases the synthesis of bile acids from cholesterol, and reduces circulating blood cholesterol concentrations. The remaining fibre components in sugar-beet fibre (hemicellulose, cellulose) are non-viscous and insoluble, and are not expected to exert a cholesterol-lowering effect.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of sugar beet fibre and maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations beyond the hypocholesterolaemic effects which could be expected from the pectin content of sugar beet fibre.
A claim on pectins and maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations has already been assessed with a favourable outcome (EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products Nutrition and Allergies (NDA), 2010).

Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia

25-40g/ day