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

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 1924/2006. This opinion addresses the scientific substantiation of health claims in relation to Equisetum arvense L. and invigoration of the body, maintenance of skin, maintenance of hair, maintenance of bone, and maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight. 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 Equisetum arvense L..

Invigoration of the body
 

The Panel considers that Equisetum arvense L. has not been sufficiently characterised for invigoration of the body.

The claimed effect “invigoration of the body” is not sufficiently defined. From the proposed wordings the Panel could not identify relevant endpoints related to the health relationship. As the claimed effect has not been sufficiently defined, the Panel concludes that its relevance to human health cannot be evaluated.

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.

Maintenance of skin
 

The Panel considers that Equisetum arvense L. has not been sufficiently characterised for maintenance of normal skin.

The claimed effect is “skin, hair health”. The Panel considers that maintenance of normal skin is beneficial to human health. 

One reference was cited to substantiate the claimed effect. This reference 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.

Maintenance of hair
 

The Panel considers that Equisetum arvense L. has not been sufficiently characterised for maintenance of normal hair.

The claimed effect is “skin, hair health”. The Panel considers that maintenance of normal hair is beneficial to human health. 

One reference was cited to substantiate the claimed effect. This reference 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.

Maintenance of bone
 

The Panel considers that Equisetum arvense L. has not been sufficiently characterised for maintenance of normal bone.

The claimed effect is “bone health”. The Panel considers that maintenance of normal bone is beneficial to human health.

One reference was cited to substantiate the claimed effect. This reference 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.

Maintenance or achievement of normal body weight
 

The Panel considers that Equisetum arvense L. has been sufficiently characterised for the 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”. From the proposed wordings the Panel assumes that the claimed effect is related to the maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight. The Panel considers that the maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight is beneficial to human health.

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.

Equisetum arvense L., invigoration, skin, hair, bone, body weight, health claims