Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to niacin and energy-yielding metabolism (ID 43, 49, 54), function of the nervous system (ID 44, 53), maintenance of the skin and mucous membranes (ID 45, 48, 50, 52), maintenance of normal LDL-cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations (ID 46), maintenance of bone (ID 50), maintenance of teeth (ID 50), maintenance of hair (ID 50, 2875) and maintenance of nails (ID 50, 2875) 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) No 1924/2006. This opinion addresses the scientific substantiation of health claims in relation to niacin and the following claimed effects: energy-yielding metabolism, function of the nervous system, maintenance of skin and mucous membranes, maintenance of normal LDL cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, maintenance of bone, maintenance of teeth, maintenance of hair, and maintenance of nails. 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 niacin, which is a well recognised nutrient and is measurable in foods by established methods. The Panel considers that niacin is sufficiently characterised.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the dietary intake of niacin and normal energy-yielding metabolism, normal function of the nervous system, and maintenance of normal skin and mucous membranes.
The evidence provided does not establish that inadequate intake of niacin 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 niacin 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.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the dietary intake of niacin and maintenance of normal bone, maintenance of normal teeth, maintenance of normal hair, and maintenance of normal nails.
The Panel considers that the claim for niacin and maintenance of normal LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations encourages excess consumption of niacin and therefore does not comply with the criteria laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
Niacin, energy-yielding metabolism, nervous system, skin, mucous membranes, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, bone, teeth, hair, nails, health claims.
