Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to
Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull. and mood balance and ability to fall asleep (ID
2815) pursuant to Article 13(1) 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:
Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull
1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika
-
Wpływ na zachowanie równowagi nastroju i ograniczenie trudności w zasypianiu
The food constituent that is the subject of the health claim is Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull.. The characterisation of Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull. 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 Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull. 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
Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull.
=
Calluna
sagittaefolia Gray = Erica
vulgaris L.
Ericaceae
Flower;
herb;
shoots
Extract;
infusion;
decoction
Liquid extract (1:1) 1 to 2
teaspoons/day.
Infusion: 1.5 g in 150 mL of
water, 3 cups/day.
Decoction: 1.5 g in 250 mL of
water, 3 cups/day.
2815 Heather blossom extract
Note: it is assumed to be
Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull.
Flower
(blossom)
Dried form;
extract
Dried extract equivalent to 585-
1755 mg dried heather
blossom/day
The scientific name is not sufficiently specified, but it is assumed to be Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull..
The Panel considers that the food constituent Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull, which is the subject of the health claim, has been sufficiently characterised with the following conditions of use: dried extract equivalent to 585-1755 mg dried heather blossom/day.
2. Znaczenie oświadczenia dla zdrowia człowieka
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Wpływ na zachowanie równowagi nastroju i ograniczenie trudności w zasypianiu
The claimed effect is “mental state and performance”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
The claimed effect “mental state and performance” is not sufficiently defined. However, from the proposed wordings, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect relates to mood balance and ability to fall asleep.
The Panel considers that normal mood balance and normal ability to fall asleep might be beneficial to human health.
3. Naukowe uzasadnienia wpływu na zdrowie człowieka - Wpływ na zachowanie równowagi nastroju i ograniczenie trudności w zasypianiu
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Wpływ na zachowanie równowagi nastroju i ograniczenie trudności w zasypianiu
Three references were cited to substantiate the claimed effect. Two references were monographs and the third a review on anti-inflammatory activity of some Swedish medicinal plants. The Panel notes that none of the references provided directly address the relationship between consumption of Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull. extract and mood balance or ability to fall asleep.
The Panel notes that the references 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 Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull. and normal mood balance and normal ability to fall asleep.
Wnioski
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that:
The food constituent, Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull., which is the subject of the health claim, has been sufficiently characterised with the following conditions of use: dried extract equivalent to 585-1755 mg dried heather blossom/day.
The claimed effect is “mental state and performance”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. Normal mood balance and normal ability to fall asleep might be beneficial to human health.
A cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull. and normal mood balance or normal ability to fall asleep.
