Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to oat and barley grain fibre and increase in faecal bulk (ID 819, 822) 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:
Oat grain fibre
barley grain fibre
cereal fibre
faecal bulk
health claims
1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika
The food constituent that is the subject of the health claim is barley grain fibre and oat grain fibre.
Oat (Avena sativa L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) are cereals which produce grains that contain dietary fibre, constituting about 10-12 % of oat grain and about 11–15 % of barley grain. Beta-glucans are the main components of the soluble dietary fibre in oat and barley grain. The composition of the insoluble dietary fibre in oat and barley is similar to the dietary fibre of other cereal grains, and consists mainly of cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin (Baik and Ulrich, 2008; Mälkki and Virtanen, 2001; Sadiq Butt et al., 2008).
The Panel considers that the food constituent, oat and barley grain fibre, which is the subject of the health claim, is sufficiently characterised in relation to the claimed effect.
2. Znaczenie oświadczenia dla zdrowia człowieka
-
Spożycie błonnika z owsa lub jęczmienia przyczynia się zwiększenia masy stolca
The claimed effect is “gut health”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
In the context of the clarifications provided by Member States and the references provided, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to the improvement of bowel function by increasing faecal bulk.
The Panel considers that an increase in faecal bulk may be a beneficial physiological effect.
3. Naukowe uzasadnienia wpływu na zdrowie człowieka - Zwiększenie masy stolca
-
Spożycie błonnika z owsa lub jęczmienia przyczynia się zwiększenia masy stolca
The evidence provided by consensus opinions/reports of authoritative bodies and reviews shows that there is good consensus on the role of cereal grain fibre, and in particular of cereal bran, in increasing faecal bulk in humans (Cummings et al., 2001; EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products Nutrition and Allergies (NDA), 2010a, 2010b, 2011).
It is well established that the bulking effect of cereal fibre is closely related to the physico-chemical properties of the fibre, and thereby to the degree of fermentation by the gut microbiota in the large intestine. Insoluble dietary fibre is fermented to a lesser extent than soluble dietary fibre, and thereby leads to an increase in faecal bulking per se. The bulking effects of soluble dietary fibre are determined by the higher extent of fermentation, and thus an increase in the bacterial mass in faeces (bacteria contain about 80 % water) (Cummings et al., 2001).
For cereal fibres, the average increase in faecal output per gram of dietary fibre consumed by humans is estimated to be 3.4 g for oat bran or oats, compared to 3.3 g for corn meal or corn bran and 5.4 g for wheat bran, and 3.5 g for cellulose (Cummings, 2001). Although no value was provided for barley grain fibre, the similarity in composition of dietary fibre in oats and barley suggests a similar effect of barley grain fibre on faecal bulk.
In weighing the evidence, the Panel took into account that the role of cereal grain fibre in increasing faecal bulk in humans is well established, that the mechanisms by which cereal grain fibre exerts the claimed effect are known, that oat fibre has a significant bulking effect in humans, and that the similarity in composition of dietary fibre in oats and barley suggests a similar effect of barley grain fibre on faecal bulk.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the consumption of oat and barley grain fibre and an increase in faecal bulk.
4. Uwagi do zaproponowanego brzmienia oświadczenia
-
Spożycie błonnika z owsa lub jęczmienia przyczynia się zwiększenia masy stolca
The Panel considers that the following wordings reflect the scientific evidence: “Oat grain fibre contributes to an increase in faecal bulk”. “Barley grain fibre contributes to an increase in faecal bulk”.
5. Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia
-
Spożycie błonnika z owsa lub jęczmienia przyczynia się zwiększenia masy stolca
The Panel considers that in order to obtain the claimed effect, a food should be at least “high in fibre” from oats or barley as per Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. The target population is the general population.
Wnioski
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that:
The food constituent, oat and barley grain fibre, which is the subject of the health claim, is sufficiently characterised in relation to the claimed effect.
The claimed effect is “gut health”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. In the context of the clarifications from Member States and the references provided, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to the improvement of bowel function by increasing faecal bulk. Increase in faecal bulk may be a beneficial physiological effect.
A cause and effect relationship has been established between the consumption of oat and barley grain fibre and an increase in faecal bulk.
The following wordings reflect the scientific evidence: “Oat grain fibre contributes to an increase in faecal bulk”. “Barley grain fibre contributes to an increase in faecal bulk”.
In order to obtain the claimed effect, a food should be at least “high in fibre” from oats or barley as per Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. The target population is the general population.
