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[sup]1[/sup]
EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA)2, 3
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Parma, Italy
Słowa kluczowe:
1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika
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Poprawa zależnego od śródbłonka rozszerzenia naczyń krwionośnych
The food constituent that is the subject of the health claim is apple flavan-3-ols.
From the conditions of use, which specify foods containing at least 70 mg of (-)-epicatechin monomers, the Panel assumes that the claim refers to monomeric flavan-3-ols from apples. The content of monomeric (i.e. catechin and epicatechin) flavan-3-ols from apples can be measured in foods by established methods.
The Panel considers that the food constituent, monomeric flavan-3-ols from apples, which is the subject of the health claim, is sufficiently characterised.
2. Znaczenie oświadczenia dla zdrowia człowieka
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Poprawa zależnego od śródbłonka rozszerzenia naczyń krwionośnych
The claimed effect is “helps to maintain vascular health”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
In the context of the proposed wordings and clarifications provided by Member States, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to the improvement of endothelium-dependent vasodilation.
The Panel considers that an improvement of endothelium-dependent vasodilation may be a beneficial physiological effect.
3. Naukowe uzasadnienia wpływu na zdrowie człowieka - Poprawa zależnego od śródbłonka rozszerzenia naczyń krwionośnych
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Poprawa zależnego od śródbłonka rozszerzenia naczyń krwionośnych
The vast majority of the references provided referred to food constituents other than monomeric flavan-3-ols from apples (e.g. cocoa flavanols, green tea catechins, and polyphenols and flavonoids from different fruits and vegetables), and/or to health outcomes other than endothelium-dependent vasodilation (e.g. antioxidant activity, bioavailability of metabolites, and risk of chronic disease, including cardiovascular disease). The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from these references for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect.
A number of observational, prospective cohort studies, which investigated the association between apple intake, including intake of catechins from apples, and the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and cardiovascular mortality were provided. None of these studies addressed the effects of apple catechins on endothelium-dependent vasodilation.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of monomeric flavan-3-ols from apples and improvement of endothelium-dependent vasodilation.
Wnioski
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that:
The food constituent, monomeric flavan-3-ols from apples, which is the subject of the health claim, is sufficiently characterised.
The claimed effect is “helps to maintain vascular health”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. An improvement of endothelium-dependent vasodilation may be a beneficial physiological effect.
A cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of monomeric flavan-3-ols from apples and improvement of endothelium-dependent vasodilation.
