Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to biotin and energy-yielding metabolism (ID 114, 117), macronutrient metabolism (ID 113, 114, 117), maintenance of skin and mucous membranes (ID 115), maintenance of hair (ID 118, 2876) and function of the nervous system (ID 116) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006
Jean-Louis Bresson, Albert Flynn, Marina Heinonen, Karin Hulshof, Hannu Korhonen, Pagona Lagiou, Martinus Løvik, Rosangela Marchelli, Ambroise Martin, Bevan Moseley, Hildegard Przyrembel, Seppo Salminen, Sean (J.J.) Strain, Stephan Strobel, Inge Tetens, Henk van den Berg, Hendrik van Loveren and Hans Verhagen
Contact
nda@efsa.europa.eu
No abstract available
Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to provide a scientific opinion on a list of health claims pursuant to Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No1924/2006. This opinion addresses the scientific substantiation of health claims in relation to biotin and the following claimed effects: energy-yielding metabolism, macronutrient metabolism, maintenance of skin and mucous membranes, maintenance of hair, and function of the nervous system. The scientific substantiation is based on the information provided by the Member States in the consolidated list of Article 13 health claims and references that EFSA has received from Member States or directly from stakeholders.
The food constituent that is the subject of the health claims is biotin, which is a well recognised nutrient and is measurable in foods by established methods. The Panel considers that biotin is sufficiently characterised.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the dietary intake of biotin and normal energy-yielding metabolism, normal macronutrient metabolism, maintenance of normal skin and mucous membranes, maintenance of normal hair and normal function of the nervous system.
The evidence provided does not establish that inadequate intake of biotin leading to impaired functions of the above-mentioned health relationships occurs in the general EU population.
The Panel considers that, in order to bear the claims, a food should be at least a source of biotin as per Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. Such amounts can be easily consumed as part of a balanced diet. The target population is the general population.
Biotin, energy-yielding metabolism, macronutrient metabolism, skin and mucous membranes, hair, nervous system, health claims
