12.01.10
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has released its third wave of scientific opinions on Article 13 “general function” health claims, including three that addressed EPA and/or DHA claims for a variety of health conditions, according to the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED), Salt Lake City, UT.
In total, EFSA issued positive opinions for four new claims and negative opinions for 11 claims on long-chain omega 3s. DHA received positive opinions for three claims: maintenance of normal (fasting) blood concentrations of triglycerides (2g/day of DHA in one or more servings), maintenance of normal brain function (foods should contain 250 mg of DHA in one or more servings) and maintenance of normal vision (foods should contain 250 mg of DHA in one or more servings).
The combination of EPA and DHA received positive opinions for three claims, two of which were reaffirmations of previous opinions: maintenance of normal cardiac function (intake of EPA and DHA of about 250 mg/day), maintenance of normal blood pressure and maintenance of normal (fasting) blood concentrations of triglycerides.
In general, these are positive developments for the recognition of EPA and DHA, further cementing their roles as the nutrients with the most recognized benefits under a strict regulatory regimen, GOED said.
However, EFSA did not recognize the evidence submitted by GOED related to maintenance of normal triglyceride levels, stating that “no scientific conclusions can be drawn from this meta-analysis to establish conditions of use for the claim.”
The panel said the meta-analysis excluded studies prior to 2002 and that combining studies using DHA alone with those using EPA+DHA does not support a claim for the combination of the two nutrients.
The panel also concluded that a cause and effect relationship had not been established for several other claims, including all claims for EPA alone.
In total, EFSA issued positive opinions for four new claims and negative opinions for 11 claims on long-chain omega 3s. DHA received positive opinions for three claims: maintenance of normal (fasting) blood concentrations of triglycerides (2g/day of DHA in one or more servings), maintenance of normal brain function (foods should contain 250 mg of DHA in one or more servings) and maintenance of normal vision (foods should contain 250 mg of DHA in one or more servings).
The combination of EPA and DHA received positive opinions for three claims, two of which were reaffirmations of previous opinions: maintenance of normal cardiac function (intake of EPA and DHA of about 250 mg/day), maintenance of normal blood pressure and maintenance of normal (fasting) blood concentrations of triglycerides.
In general, these are positive developments for the recognition of EPA and DHA, further cementing their roles as the nutrients with the most recognized benefits under a strict regulatory regimen, GOED said.
However, EFSA did not recognize the evidence submitted by GOED related to maintenance of normal triglyceride levels, stating that “no scientific conclusions can be drawn from this meta-analysis to establish conditions of use for the claim.”
The panel said the meta-analysis excluded studies prior to 2002 and that combining studies using DHA alone with those using EPA+DHA does not support a claim for the combination of the two nutrients.
The panel also concluded that a cause and effect relationship had not been established for several other claims, including all claims for EPA alone.