Scientific opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to
Equisetum arvense L. and invigoration of the body (ID 2437), maintenance
of skin (ID 2438), maintenance of hair (ID 2438), maintenance of bone
(ID 2439), and maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight (ID
2783) pursuant to Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006[sup]1[/sup]
EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA)2
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Parma, Italy
Słowa kluczowe:
Equisetum arvense L
1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika
The food constituent that is the subject of the health claims is Equisetum arvense L.. The characterisation of Equisetum arvense L. is performed by comparing data provided as conditions of use to information extracted from standard reference textbooks (see Table 2 below and Appendix C for list of standard reference textbooks used for the characterisation).
Table 2. Information on Equisetum arvense L. from standard reference textbooks and the information provided as conditions of use.
ID Scientific name Part used
Nature of the
preparation Conditions of use
Text-
book
Equisetum
arvense L. =
Allosites arvense
Brongn.
Equisetaceae
Aerial
part
Fresh; powder; fluid
extract; decoction
Fresh herb.
Powder: 15 g/day.
Fluid extract: (1:1), 2-5 g/day or 5-
20 g/day according to indication.
Decoction: 1.5 g in 1 L of water/day.
2437 Equisetum
arvense L.
(Horsetail)
Herb Not specified.
Note: It is assumed to be
the dried herb
Herb: 45-630 mg / Used as part of a
multibotanical combination.
Note: the daily amount is not specified
2438 Equisetum
arvense L.
(Horsetail)
Herb Not specified.
Note: It is assumed to be
the dried herb
Herb: 7.5-45 mg / Used as part of a
multibotanical combination.
Note: the daily amount is not specified
2439 Equisetum
arvense L.
(Horsetail)
Herb Not specified.
Note: It is assumed to be
the dried herb
Herb: 180 mg / Used as part of a
multibotanical combination.
Note: the daily amount is not specified
2783 Equisetum arvense L.
Common name :
Prêle des champs
Sterile
aerial
part
Not specified.
Note: it is assumed to be
the dried form
400 mg/day.
ID 2437, 2438, 2439:
The nature of the preparation is not given, but it is assumed to be the dried herb. The daily amount is not specified. The Panel notes that the consolidated list contains insufficient information to allow a characterisation of Equisetum arvense L.
The Panel notes that there is no information on the other components of the multibotanical combination.
The Panel considers that the food constituent, Equisetum arvense L., which is the subject of the health claim, has not been sufficiently characterised.
ID 2783:
The nature of the preparation is not given, but it is assumed to be the powder.
The Panel considers that the food constituent, Equisetum arvense L., which is the subject of the health claim, has been sufficiently characterised with the following conditions of use: dried powder from the sterile aerial part: 400 mg/day.
2. Znaczenie oświadczenia dla zdrowia człowieka
2.1. Ożywienie/pokrzepienie ciała (ID 2437)
The claimed effect is “invigoration of the body”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
From the proposed wordings the Panel could not identify relevant endpoints related to the health relationship.
The Panel considers that the claimed effect has not been sufficiently defined and therefore concludes that its relevance to human health cannot be evaluated.
2.2. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu skóry (ID 2438)
The claimed effect is “skin, hair health”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
The Panel considers that maintenance of normal skin is beneficial to human health.
2.3. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu włosów (ID 2438)
The claimed effect is “skin, hair health”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
The Panel considers that maintenance of normal hair is beneficial to human health.
2.4. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu kości (ID 2439)
The claimed effect is “bone health”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
The Panel considers that maintenance of normal bone is beneficial to human health.
2.5. Osiąganie lub utrzymywanie prawidłowej masy ciała (ID 2783)
The claimed effect is “amincissement”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
From the proposed wordings, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect is related to the maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight. In this context, even a moderate weight loss in overweight subjects without achieving a normal body weight is considered beneficial to health.
The Panel considers that the maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight is beneficial to human health.
3. Naukowe uzasadnienia wpływu na zdrowie człowieka
3.1. Ożywienie/pokrzepienie ciała (ID 2437)
Four references were cited to substantiate the claimed effect. One reference was a periodical. One reference was an animal study examining the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of the hydroalcoholic extract of stems from Equisetum arvense L. (Do Monte et al., 2004). Another animal study investigated chronic administration of the hydroalcoholic extract of stems from Equisetum arvense L. on cognitive impairment (Dos Santos Junior et al., 2005a). A third animal study examined the sedative and anticonvulsant effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Equisetum arvense L. (Dos Santos Junior et al., 2005b). The Panel notes that the references cited are not related to the claimed effect and did not provide any scientific data that could be used to substantiate the claimed effect.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of Equisetum arvense L. and invigoration of the body.
3.2. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu skóry (ID 2438)
One reference was cited to substantiate the claimed effect. This reference was a periodical which was not accessible to the Panel, even after every reasonable effort was made to retrieve it.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of Equisetum arvense L. and maintenance of normal skin.
3.3. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu włosów (ID 2438)
One reference was cited to substantiate the claimed effect. This reference was a periodical which was not accessible to the Panel, even after every reasonable effort was made to retrieve it.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of Equisetum arvense L. and maintenance of normal hair.
3.4. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu kości (ID 2439)
One reference was cited to substantiate the claimed effect. This reference was a periodical which was not accessible to the Panel, even after every reasonable effort was made to retrieve it.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of Equisetum arvense L. and maintenance of normal bone.
3.5. Osiąganie lub utrzymywanie prawidłowej masy ciała (ID 2783)
One reference was cited to substantiate the claimed effect. This reference is a guidance document. The Panel notes that the reference cited did not provide any scientific data that could be used to substantiate the claimed effect.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of Equisetum arvense L. and the maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight.
Wnioski
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that:
Invigoration of the body (ID 2437)
The food constituent, Equisetum arvense L., which is the subject of the health claim, has not been sufficiently characterised for invigoration of the body.
The claimed effect is “body invigoration”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. Invigoration of the body is not sufficiently defined.
A cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of Equisetum arvense L. and invigoration of the body.
Maintenance of skin (ID 2438)
The food constituent, Equisetum arvense L., which is the subject of the health claim, has not been sufficiently characterised for maintenance of normal skin.
The claimed effect is “skin, hair health”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. Maintenance of normal skin is beneficial to human health.
A cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of Equisetum arvense L. and maintenance of normal skin.
Maintenance of hair (ID 2438)
The food constituent, Equisetum arvense L., which is the subject of the health claim, has not been sufficiently characterised for maintenance of normal hair.
The claimed effect is “skin, hair health”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. Maintenance of normal hair is beneficial to human health.
A cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of Equisetum arvense L. and maintenance of normal hair.
Maintenance of bone (ID 2439)
The food constituent, Equisetum arvense L., which is the subject of the health claim, has not been sufficiently characterised for maintenance of normal bone.
The claimed effect is “bone health”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. Maintenance of normal bone is beneficial to human health.
A cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of Equisetum arvense L. and maintenance of normal bone.
Maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight (ID 2783)
The food constituent, Equisetum arvense L., which is the subject of the health claim, has been sufficiently characterised for maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight with the following conditions of use: dried powder from the sterile aerial part: 400 mg/day.
The claimed effect is “amincissement”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. The maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight is beneficial to human health.
A cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of Equisetum arvense L. and the maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight.
