Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to partially hydrolysed guar gum and increase in satiety (ID 790), maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight (ID 790), maintenance of normal blood concentrations of triglycerides (ID 793, 816), maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations (ID 793, 816), reduction of post-prandial glycaemic responses (ID 789, 2932) and maintenance of normal blood glucose concentrations (ID 792) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006
Carlo Agostoni, Jean-Louis Bresson, Susan Fairweather-Tait, Albert Flynn, Ines Golly, Hannu Korhonen, Pagona Lagiou, Martinus Løvik, Rosangela Marchelli, Ambroise Martin, Bevan Moseley, Monika Neuhäuser-Berthold, Hildegard Przyrembel, Seppo Salminen, Yolanda Sanz, Sean (J.J.) Strain, Stephan Strobel, Inge Tetens, Daniel Tomé, Hendrik van Loveren and Hans Verhagen
Acknowledgment
The Panel wishes to thank for the preparation of this opinion: The members of the Working Group on Claims Carlo Agostoni, Jean-Louis Bresson, Susan Fairweather-Tait, Albert Flynn, Ines Golly, Marina Heinonen, Hannu Korhonen, Martinus Løvik, Ambroise Martin, Hildegard Przyrembel, Seppo Salminen, Yolanda Sanz, Sean (J.J.) Strain, Inge Tetens, Hendrik van Loveren and Hans Verhagen. The members of the Claims Sub-Working Group on Cardiovascular Health/Oxidative Stress: Antti Aro, Marianne Geleijnse, Marina Heinonen, Ambroise Martin, Wilhelm Stahl and Henk van den Berg. The members of the Claims Sub-Working Group on Weight Management/Satiety/Glucose and Insulin Control/Physical Performance: Kees de Graaf, Joanne Harrold, Mette Hansen, Mette Kristensen, Anders Sjödin and Inge Tetens.
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 partially hydrolysed guar gum and increase in satiety, maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight, maintenance of normal blood concentrations of triglycerides, maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations, reduction of post-prandial glycaemic responses and maintenance of normal blood glucose concentrations. 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 claim is partially hydrolysed guar gum. The Panel considers that partially hydrolysed guar gum is sufficiently characterised.
Increase in satiety
The claimed effect is “satiety”. The target population is assumed to be individuals who need to control their energy intake. In the context of this opinion, satiety is interpreted as the decrease in the motivation to eat after consumption of food leading to a reduction in energy intake. The Panel considers that an increase in satiety might be a beneficial physiological effect.
In weighing the evidence, the Panel took into account that the two studies presented showed no effect of partially hydrolysed guar gum consumption on appetite ratings leading to a reduction in energy intake when the energy content of the test meal was taken into account.
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of partially hydrolysed guar gum and increased satiety.
Maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight
The claimed effect is “weight management”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. The Panel considers that maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight is a beneficial physiological effect.
The only human intervention study presented did not show an effect of partially hydrolysed guar gum consumption on body weight.
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of partially hydrolysed guar gum and maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight.
Maintenance of normal blood concentrations of triglycerides
The claimed effects are “lipid management” and “heart health/cholesterol maintenance”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. The Panel considers that maintenance of normal (fasting) blood concentrations of triglycerides may be a beneficial physiological effect.
Two small, uncontrolled and short-term human intervention studies investigating the effets of partially hydrolysed guar gum on fasting blood concentrations of triglicerides were presented from which no scientific conclusions could be drawn for the substantiation of the claimed effect.
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of partially hydrolysed guar gum and maintenance of normal (fasting) blood concentrations of triglycerides.
Maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations
The claimed effects are “lipid management” and “heart health/cholesterol maintenance”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. The Panel considers that maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations is a beneficial physiological effect.
Two small, uncontrolled and short-term human intervention studies investigating the effets of partially hydrolysed guar gum on blood cholesterol concentrations were presented from which no scientific conclusions could be drawn for the substantiation of the claimed effect.
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of partially hydrolysed guar gum and maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations at the proposed conditions of use.
Reduction of post-prandial glycaemic responses
The claimed effects are “glycaemic response” and “postprandial blood glucose”. The target population is assumed to be subjects willing to reduce their post-prandial glycaemic responses. The Panel considers that the reduction of post-prandial glycaemic responses may be a beneficial physiological effect.
In weighing the evidence, the Panel took into account that no conclusions could be drawn for the substantiation of the claim from any of the cited studies which examined the effect of partially hydrolysed guar gum on post-prandial glycaemic responses.
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of partially hydrolysed guar gum and reduction of post-prandial glycaemic responses.
Maintenance of normal blood glucose concentrations
The claimed effect is “energy and vitality”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. In the context of the proposed wordings, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to the long-term maintenance or achievement or normal blood glucose concentrations. The Panel considers that long-term maintenance of normal blood glucose concentrations is a beneficial physiological effect.
No studies investigating the effects of partially hydrolysed guar gum consumption on measures of long-term blood glucose control were provided.
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of partially hydrolysed guar gum and the long-term maintenance of normal blood glucose concentrations.
Partially hydrolysed guar gum, cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, post-prandial glycaemic responses, body weight, satiety, health claims
