Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to alpha cylcodextrin and reduction of post prandial glycaemic responses (ID 856, 2926), maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight (ID 2925) 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 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 alpha-cyclodextrin and reduction of post-prandial glycaemic responses 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 subject of the health claim is alpha-cyclodextrin. The Panel considers that alpha-cyclodextrin is sufficiently characterised.
Reduction of post-prandial glycaemic responses
The claimed effect is “glucose homeostasis”. The target population is assumed to be subjects willing to reduce their post-prandial glycaemic responses. The Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to the reduction of post-prandial glycaemic and insulinaemic 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 only one study was presented testing the effects of alpha-cyclodextrin on post-prandial blood glucose responses when added to white rice without accompanying evidence of a biologically plausible mechanism by which alpha-cyclodextrin could exert the claimed effect.
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that the evidence provided is insufficient to establish a cause and effect relationship between the consumption of alpha-cyclodextrin and the reduction of post-prandial glycaemic responses.
Maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight
The claimed effect is “weight management”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. Weight management can be interpreted as the contribution to the maintenance of a normal body weight. In this context even a moderate weight loss in overweight subjects without achieving a normal body weight is considered beneficial to health. The Panel considers that the maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight is a beneficial physiological effect.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of alpha-cyclodextrin and the maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight.
Alpha-cyclodextrin, glycaemic response, body weight, health claims
