Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to gamma linolenic acid and maintenance of joints (ID 494, 637, 1774, 2098), weight maintenance following weight loss (ID 496), maintenance of peripheral blood flow (ID 638), maintenance of normal blood pressure (ID 1771), maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations (ID 1771) and maintenance of bone (ID 1774) 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 Bone/Teeth/Connective Tissue: Rikke Andersen, Olivier Bruyère, Albert Flynn, Ingegerd Johansson, Jukka Meurman and Hildegard Przyrembel.
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 gamma-linolenic acid and maintenance of joints, weight maintenance following weight loss, maintenance of peripheral blood flow, maintenance of normal blood pressure, maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations and maintenance of bone. 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 subject of the health claims is gamma-linolenic acid. The Panel considers that gamma-linolenic acid is sufficiently characterised.
Maintenance of joints
The claimed effect is “joint health”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. The Panel assumes that the claimed effect relates to maintenance of normal joints. The Panel considers that maintenance of normal joints is a beneficial physiological effect.
No studies which addressed the effect of gamma-linolenic acid consumption on the maintenance of normal joints in the target population, or from which the results could be extrapolated to the target population, were presented.
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of gamma-linolenic acid and maintenance of normal joints.
Weight maintenance after weight loss
The claimed effect is “reduces regaining weight”. The target population is assumed to be overweight subjects in the general population who wish to maintain their body weight after significant weight loss. Weight control can be interpreted as the contribution to the maintenance of a normal body weight after weight loss. In this context, the maintenance of a moderate weight loss in overweight subjects without having achieved a normal body weight is considered a beneficial physiological effect. The Panel considers that weight maintenance after weight loss is a beneficial physiological effect.
In weighing the evidence, the Panel took into account that only one small study was presented testing the effects of gamma-linolenic acid on weight loss without accompanying evidence of a biologically plausible mechanism by which gamma-linolenic acid could exert 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 gamma-linolenic acid and weight maintenance after weight loss.
Maintenance of peripheral blood flow
The claimed effect is “maintaining hands and feet in good condition (supportive measure for microcirculation and peripheral nerves)”. 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 maintenance of a normal peripheral blood flow. The Panel considers that maintenance of a normal peripheral blood flow is a beneficial physiological effect.
No studies which addressed the effect of gamma-linolenic acid consumption on the maintenance of a normal peripheral blood flow in the target population, or from which the results could be extrapolated to the target population, were presented.
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of gamma-linolenic acid and maintenance of a normal peripheral blood flow.
Maintenance of normal blood pressure
The claimed effect is “vascular health”. 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 maintenance of normal blood pressure and to maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations. The Panel considers that maintenance of normal blood pressure is a beneficial physiological effect.
No references on the effects of gamma-linolenic acid consumption on blood pressure were presented.
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of gamma-linolenic acid and maintenance of normal blood pressure.
Maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations
The claimed effect is “vascular health”. 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 maintenance of normal blood pressure and to maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations. The Panel considers that maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations is a beneficial physiological effect.
No references on the effects of gamma-linolenic acid consumption on blood cholesterol concentrations were presented.
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of gamma-linolenic acid and maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations.
Maintenance of bone
The claimed effect is “bone health”. 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 maintenance of normal bone through the promotion of calcium absorption. The Panel considers that maintenance of normal bone is a beneficial physiological effect.
No references on the effects of gamma-linolenic acid consumption on bone health related outcomes were presented.
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of gamma-linolenic acid and maintenance of normal bone.
Gamma-linolenic acid, GLA, joints, weight maintenance, blood flow, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, bone, health claims
