Complete EFSA health claim batch 4 breakdown: Winners and losers

NutraIngredients will provide analysis and reaction to these opinions that included favourable nutrient replacement opinions and less favourable probiotic and lutein verdicts in the coming days, but today, here is a breakdown of the key opinions.

Note some nutrients earned both positive and negative opinions for different claims, and opinions that affirm previous opinions have mostly been omitted from this list.

Winners:​​

• Water ​maintains normal physical and cognitive functions; maintains thermoregulation when two litres are consumed per day.
• ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). ​Brain and neurological development article 14 positive opinion affirmed.
• Sugar replacers ​can decrease tooth demineralisation if four foods-drinks consumed daily but not lower plaque pH below 5.7. Xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol, lactitol, isomalt, erythritol, D-tagatose, isomaltulose, sucralose and polydextrose containing products must include “excessive consumption may produce laxative effects”​ disclaimer. Reduced post-prandial blood glucose response claim also approved with same laxative warning.
• Replacement of SFAs​ with monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs)​ and/or mixtures of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) ​may help maintain normal blood LDL cholesterol concentrations.
• Caffeine ​increases alertness and attention (at least 75mg per serving).
• Resistant starch​ can reduce post-prandial glycaemic and insulinaemic responses when replacing digestible starches by at least 14%.
• Carbamide sugar-free gum ​can neutralise plaque acid when there is at least 20mg carbamide per piece and it is chewed for at least 20 minutes after eating or drinking.
• Betaine ​can help maintain normal homocysteine metabolism if 1.5g is consumed daily.
• Activated charcoal ​can​reduce excessive intestinal gas accumulation if 1g consumed 30 minutes before a meal and 1g after meals.
• Olive polyphenols ​can reduce LDL cholesterol levels.
• Choline ​benefits lipid metabolism; liver function; homocysteine metabolism.
• Meat or fish​ can improve non haem iron absorption.
• Walnuts​ can help improve function of blood vessels.

Losers:​​

• Almonds and walnuts​ not shown to maintain normal LDL cholesterol beyond what could be expected from their fatty acid composition. Almonds don't benefit normal erectile function.
• Quercetin​ does not protect DNA, proteins or lipids from oxidative damage. Cardiovascular, mental, kidney and liver claims all too general for consideration under the NHCR.
• Lactobacillus paracasei ​​LMG P 22043 ​does not decrease potentially pathogenic gastro-intestinal microorganisms or reduce gastro-intestinal discomfort.
• Lactobacillus johnsonii​​ BFE 6128 . ​Immunity and skin​claims all too general for consideration under the NHCR.
• Lactobacillus fermentum​​ ME-3 ​not​shown to​decrease potentially pathogenic gastro-intestinal microorganisms.
• Lactobacillus plantarum​​ BFE 1685. ​Immunity​claim deemed too general for NHCR.
• Bifidobacterium longum​​ BB536 ​does not improve bowel regularity; does not resist cedar pollen allergens; does not decrease pathogens.
• Bifidobacterium animalis​​ ssp. lactis​ Bb-12 ​does not help maintain​normal LDL-blood cholesterol; does not decrease pathogens or boost immunity.
• Lactobacillus plantarum​​ 299v ​does not reduce flatulence and bloating or protect DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage.
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus​​ LB21 NCIMB 40564 ​does not help maintain individual intestinal microbiota in subjects receiving antibiotic treatment.
• Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)​ does not maintain normal muscle function.
• Green tea catechins ​(Camellia sinensis ​(L.) Kuntze) do not benefit heart health (endothelium dependent vasodilation) and brain health; do not benefit blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, DNA and lipid protection; do not decrease gut pathogens and normal blood glucose concentrations (from previous opinions). Immunity, mouth and “invigoration of the body” ​claims deemed too general for NHCR.
• Beta-carotene ​does not protect DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage; does not protect the skin from UV-induced (including photo-oxidative) damage.
• Apple flavanols​ do not contribute to vascular health (endothelium-dependent vasodilation).

• L-tryptophan​ does not help maintain normal sleep, normal cognitive function, normal body weight or enhance mood.
• Phosphorus​ does not reduce tiredness and fatigue.
• Acacia gum ​does not decrease potentially pathogenic gastro-intestinal microorganisms; does not boost short chain fatty acid and pH levels in the gastro-intestinal tract; does not change bowel function; does not reduce gastro-intestinal discomfort; does not maintain faecal nitrogen content and/or normal blood urea concentrations. Previous negative opinion for maintaining normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations affirmed.
• Nuts with omega-3/omega-6​ content. ​Peanuts and tree nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts, excluding brazil, macadamia and cashew nuts) and “anti-inflammatory”, “heart health”, “weight management”​ and “healthy cardiovascular system” ​claims deemed insufficiently characterised.
• Peanuts, peanut oil and peanut butter​ do not maintain normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations beyond what could be expected from the fatty acid composition of peanuts.
• Rapeseed oil ​does not reduce normal blood HDL-cholesterol concentrations.
• Lycopene ​does not protect DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage; does not protect skin from UV damage; does not contribute to normal heart or vision function.
• Fructooligosaccharides (FOS)​ from sucrose does not perform a range of functions.
• ALA ​does not maintain normal cardiac function, enhance mood or maintain normal blood pressure (from previous opinion). “Molecule precursors regulating cell functions”​ and “Nutrient tasks and interactions”​​claims deemed too general for NHCR.
• Maize oil​ does​not​maintain normal blood LDL cholesterol concentrations beyond what could be expected from the fatty acid composition of maize oil.
• L-lysine​ does not boost the immune system against the herpes virus; does not maintain normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations; does not increase appetite and energy intake; does not contribute to normal protein synthesis (in addition to normal protein effect); does not contribute to the maintenance of normal bone (in addition to normal protein effect); does not increase calcium absorption.
• Taurine ​does not contribute to normal cognitive or cardiac function and does not delay onset of fatigue during exercise. Claims about normal muscle function, metabolism and immunity too general for NHCR.
• Caffeine ​does not increase energy expenditure or fat oxidation.
• Coffee ​does not protect​DNA, lipids or proteins from oxidative damage and chlorogenic acids in coffee do not help maintain normal blood glucose concentrations or normal body weight.
• Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS)​ do not reduce gastro-intestinal discomfort or potentially pathogenic gastro-intestinal microorganisms.
• Pine nut oil​ (from Pinus koraiensis​ Siebold & Zucc) does not increase satiety.
• Olive oil​ does not maintain normal blood LDL cholesterol concentrations beyond what could be expected from the fatty acid composition of olive oil; does not maintain normal (fasting) blood concentrations of triglycerides; does not maintain normal HDL-cholesterol concentrations; does not maintain normal blood glucose concentrations.
• Lutein ​does not protect DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage; does not protect the skin from UV induced (including photo-oxidative). Previous maintenance of normal vision negative opinion affirmed. Lutein-zeaxanthin​ blends do not benefit normal vision.
• Charcoal ​does not reduce bloating.
• E​pigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and caffeine​ do not contribute to the maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight.
• EPA/DHA​ does not enhance mood.
• Mycoprotein ​does not increase satiety or maintain normal blood LDL cholesterol concentrations beyond the LDL-cholesterol lowering effects which could be expected from the beta-glucan content of mycoprotein.
• Sugar beet fibre ​does not reduce post-prandial glycaemic responses; does not maintain normal blood glucose concentrations; does not change bowel function or maintain normal blood LDL cholesterol concentrations beyond the hypocholesterolaemic effects that could be expected from the pectin content of sugar beet fibre.
• Water.​​“Basic requirement of all living things”​ claim rejected as too general for NHCR.
• Resistant starch​ digestive health and colon metabolism claims too general for NHCR.
• Maltodextrin ​does not​maintain normal blood LDL cholesterol concentrations; does not reduce post prandial glycaemic responses; does not maintain normal (fasting) blood concentrations of triglycerides or change bowel function.
• L-arginine ​does not help grow or maintain muscle mass (apart from normal role of protein); does not assist normal red blood cell formation; does not maintain normal blood pressure; does not improve vascular health (endothelium-dependent vasodilation); does not maintain normal erectile function; does not contribute to normal spermatogenesis. Intestinal tract, nervous system, physical performance and immunity claims considered too general for NHCR. Protein-related ammonia clearance claim turned down on the grounds the European population not deemed protein deficient.
• Choline ​does not benefit a range of mental functions.
• L-carnosine ​does not benefit cardiac function, endurance, muscle power.