Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to “wheat dextrin” and maintenance of normal blood pressure (ID 844, 1682), maintenance of normal (fasting) blood concentrations of triglycerides (ID 844, 1682), maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations (ID 844, 1682), reduction of post-prandial glycaemic responses (ID 845, 3096), increase in magnesium and/or calcium retention (ID 846, 3097), short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in the bowel (ID 1681), decreasing potentially pathogenic gastro-intestinal microorganisms (ID 843, 1681) and maintenance of normal bowel function (ID 843, 1680) 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 preparatory work on this scientific opinion: Daisy Jonkers, Antti Aro and Mette Kristensen. 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 Gut/Immune: Maria Carmen Collado, Miguel Gueimonde, Daisy Jonkers, Martinus Løvik, Bevan Moseley, Maria Saarela, Seppo Salminen, Stephan Strobel and Hendrik van Loveren. 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 “wheat dextrin” and maintenance of normal blood pressure, maintenance of normal (fasting) blood concentrations of triglycerides, maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations, reduction of post-prandial glycaemic responses, increase in magnesium and/or calcium retention, short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in the bowel, decreasing potentially pathogenic gastro-intestinal microorganisms, and maintenance of normal bowel function. 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 “wheat dextrin”. The Panel notes that the food constituent which is the subject of the health claims is a specific commercial preparation of wheat dextrin.
The Panel considers that the food constituent, wheat dextrin in the specific preparation, which is the subject of this opinion is sufficiently characterised in relation to the claimed effects.
Maintenance of normal blood pressure
The claimed effect is “heart 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 the maintenance of normal blood pressure. The Panel considers that maintenance of normal blood pressure is a beneficial physiological effect.
No references have been provided from which conclusions could be drawn for the scientific substantiation of the claim.
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of “wheat dextrin” and maintenance of normal blood pressure.
Maintenance of normal (fasting) blood concentrations of triglycerides
The claimed effect is “heart 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 the maintenance of normal (fasting) blood concentrations of triglycerides. The Panel considers that maintenance of normal (fasting) blood concentrations of triglycerides may be a beneficial physiological effect.
No references have been provided from which conclusions could be drawn for the scientific substantiation of the claim.
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of “wheat dextrin” and maintenance of normal (fasting) blood concentrations of triglycerides.
Maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations
The claimed effect is “heart 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 the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations. The Panel considers that maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations is a beneficial physiological effect.
No references have been provided from which conclusions could be drawn for the scientific substantiation of the claim.
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of “wheat dextrin” and maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations.
Reduction of post-prandial glycaemic responses
The claimed effect is “reduction of glycaemic response”. The target population is assumed to be individuals willing to reduce their post-prandial glycaemic responses. The Panel considers that reduction of post-prandial glycaemic responses (as long as post-prandial insulinaemic responses are not disproportionally increased) may be a beneficial physiological effect.
No references have been provided from which conclusions could be drawn for the scientific substantiation of the claim.
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of “wheat dextrin” and reduction of post-prandial glycaemic responses.
Increase in magnesium and/or calcium retention
The claimed effect is “mineral absorption”. 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 an increase in magnesium and/or calcium absorption and retention. The Panel considers that an increase in magnesium and/or calcium absorption leading to an increase in magnesium and/or calcium retention might be a beneficial physiological effect.
In weighing the evidence, the Panel took into account that only one study reported an effect of wheat dextrin on magnesium (but not on calcium) retention in a small sample of subjects during a very short time, that no information is provided about the sustainability of the effect, and that no evidence for a mechanism by which wheat dextrin could exert the claimed effect has been 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 “wheat dextrin” and increase in magnesium and/or calcium absorption leading to an increase in magnesium and/or calcium retention.
Short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in the bowel
The claimed effect is “bowel health/SCFA production”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. The Panel considers that the evidence provided does not establish that short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in the bowel is a beneficial physiological effect.
A cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of the “wheat dextrin” and a beneficial physiological effect related to short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in the bowel.
Decreasing potentially pathogenic gastro-intestinal microorganisms
The claimed effects are “bowel health/digestive health/bowel movement” and “bowel health/SCFA production”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. In the context of the proposed wording, the Panel assumes that the claimed effects refer to changes in the number of gastro-intestinal microorganisms. The Panel considers that decreasing potentially pathogenic gastro-intestinal microorganisms might be a beneficial physiological effect.
No references have been provided from which conclusions could be drawn for the scientific substantiation of the claim.
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of “wheat dextrin” and decreasing potentially pathogenic gastro-intestinal microorganisms.
Maintenance of normal bowel function
The claimed effect is “bowel health/digestive health/bowel movement”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. The Panel considers that maintenance of normal bowel function might be a beneficial physiological effect.
In weighing the evidence, the Panel took into account that only one study reported an effect of wheat dextrin on stool weight in a small sample of subjects at a dose that was considerably higher than the doses proposed in the conditions of use, while the two other human intervention studies provided did not show an effect on the outcomes which were related to the claimed effects.
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of “wheat dextrin” and maintenance of normal bowel function.
Wheat dextrin, blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol, post-prandial glycaemic responses, calcium, magnesium, retention, short chain fatty acids, gastro-intestinal microorganisms, bowel function, health claims
