Stablor((R)) and reduction of visceral fat while maintaining lean mass : evaluation of a health claim pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

Following an application from Laboratoires Nutrition et Cardiometabolisme, submitted for authorisation of a health claim pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of France, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to Stablor (R) and decrease in visceral fat while preserving lean mass. The food Stablor (R), a drink preparation with defined macro- and micronutrient composition and a specific proportion of amino acids ( tryptophan to neutral amino acids ratio) which is the subject of the health claim, is sufficiently characterised. The Panel considers that reduction of visceral fat while maintaining lean body mass in the context of an energy restricted diet is a beneficial physiological effect in overweight or obese subjects with abdominal fat and cardiometabolic risk factors. Four human studies were submitted by the applicant as pertinent to the claimed effect. In weighing the evidence, the Panel took into account that one human study from which conclusions could be drawn for scientific substantiation of the claimed effect did not show an effect of Stablor (R) on visceral fat mass in the context of an energy restricted diet. The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of Stablor (R) and reduction of visceral fat while maintaining lean body mass in the context of an energy restricted diet. (C) 2017 European Food Safety Authority.Peer reviewe

Safety of alginate-konjac-xanthan polysaccharide complex (PGX) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 258/97

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on alginate-konjac- xanthan polysaccharide complex (PGX) as a novel food (NF) submitted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 258/97. The NF is an off-white granular powder composed of three non- starch polysaccharides: konjac glucomannan, xanthan gum and sodium alginate. The information provided on the composition, the specifications, the batch-to-batch variability and the stability of the NF is sufficient and does not raise safety concerns. The production process is sufficiently described and does not raise concerns about the safety of the NF. The applicant intends to add the NF to a variety of foods as well as to market the NF in capsules. The recommended maximum daily intake of the NF from fortified foods and food supplements is 15 g. The target population proposed by the applicant is adults from 18 to 64 years of age. Considering the no observed adverse effect level of 1.8 g/kg body weight (bw) per day in a subchronic toxicity study with PGX and the highest mean and 95th percentile anticipated daily intake of NF from fortified foods, the margin of exposure (MoE) is 12 and 6, respectively, whereas the MoE for the NF from food supplements is 9. The Panel concludes that the safety of the novel food, PGX, for the intended uses and use levels as proposed by the applicant, has not been established. (C) 2017 European Food Safety Authority.Peer reviewe

Statement on the safety of EstroG-100 (TM) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 258/97

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to update its scientific opinion on the safety of EstroG-100 (TM) as a novel food (NF) in the light of additional information submitted by the applicant. In its previous scientific opinion of 2016, the Panel concluded that EstroG-100 (TM), which is a hot-water extract of a mixture of three herbal roots, is safe for the use in food supplements at the maximum intake level of 175 mg/day in post-menopausal women, which is lower than the maximum intake level proposed by the applicant (514 mg/day). The Panel reached its conclusions based on the effects of EstroG-100 (TM) on liver and haematology as observed in several oral toxicity studies, the lack of information on liver and haematological parameters in human studies and the absence of chronic toxicity data. In view of the Panel's conclusion on the safety of EstroG-100 (TM), the applicant has now provided additional information on haematological and liver parameters for the human intervention study with EstroG-100 (TM) and historical control data related to the subchronic 90-day oral toxicity study with EstroG-100 (TM). After assessing the additional information provided by the applicant, the Panel considers that the conclusion of the scientific opinion on the safety of EstroG-100 (TM) does not need to be revised, and thus, the Panel reconfirms that the NF is safe for the use in food supplements at the maximum intake level of 175 mg/day in post-menopausal women. (C) 2017 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.Peer reviewe

Condensyl (R) and decreases sperm DNA damage which is a risk factor for male infertility : evaluation of a health claim pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/ 2006

Following an application from Laboratoire Nurilia submitted for authorisation of a health claim pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of France, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to Condensyl (R) and decreases sperm DNA damage. High sperm DNA damage is a risk factor for male subfertility/infertility'. Condensyl (R) is a fixed combination of opuntia fruit dry extract, N-acetyl cysteine, zinc, nicotinamide, vitamins B2, B6, B12 and E, and folic acid. The Panel considers that Condensyl (R) is sufficiently characterised. The Panel assumes that the disease that is the subject of the application is male infertility and that the target population for the claim includes males wishing to increase their fertility but excludes males with clinical infertility. The Panel considers that the reduction of DNA sperm damage is a beneficial physiological effect in the context of reducing the risk of male infertility. The applicant provided four human intervention studies conducted in males with clinical infertility, from which no conclusions could be drawn for the scientific substantiation of the claim. The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of Condensyl (R) and reduction of DNA sperm damage in the context of reducing the risk of male infertility. (C) 2017 European Food Safety Authority.Peer reviewe

Safety of betaine as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 258/97

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panelon Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on betaine as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 258/97. The information provided on the composition, the specifications, the batch-to-batch variability, stability and production process of the NF is sufficient and does not raise concerns about the safety of the NF. The NF is proposed to be used in foods intended to meet additional requirements for intense muscular effort with a maximum intake of 2.5 g/day of betaine for sports people above 10 years of age. Based on the lowest BMDL05, which was derived from a chronic toxicity study in rats in which a dose-related increase in platelet counts was observed, and the anticipated daily intake of the NF in the target population, the Margins of Exposure are 3.6 and 5, which are generally regarded as not sufficient. However, the total exposure to betaine from the diet (about 830 mg/day) is not known to be associated with adverse effects. Moreover, no adverse effects on platelet counts were noted in human intervention studies with exposure levels of 4 g/day of betaine for up to 6 months. A significant increase in total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol concentrations was noted at intakes of 4 g/day of betaine in overweight subjects with metabolic syndrome but not in healthy subjects, nor at intakes of 3 g/day. Thus, considering 4 g/day of betaine as a reference point and applying an uncertainty factor of 10 to account for interindividual variability, an amount of 400 mg/day of betaine in addition to the background exposure is considered as safe. The Panelconsiders that the NF is safe to be used at maximum intake of 400 mg/day in the target population. (C) 2017 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.Peer reviewe

Safety of Ecklonia cava phlorotannins as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 258/97

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panelon Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety of Ecklonia cava phlorotannins (marketed as SeaPolynol) as a novel food submitted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No258/97. The novel food is a phlorotannin-rich alcohol extract of Ecklonia cava, which is an edible marine brown alga species. The information provided on the composition, the specifications, the production process and the batch-to-batch variability of the novel food is sufficient and does not raise safety concerns. The intention is to market the novel food as a food supplement for healthy individuals over the age of 12years. A subchronic repeated dose oral toxicity study in rodents tested the novel food at daily doses of 0, 375, 750 and 1,500mg/kg body weight (bw). The Panelconsiders the mid-dose as the no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) of the study. Taking into account this NOAEL of 750mg/kg bw per day and by applying an uncertainty factor of 200, the Panelconsiders an intake level of 3.75mg/kg bw per day as safe. The Panelconcludes that the novel food, Ecklonia cava phlorotannins, is safe for the use in food supplements at a maximum daily intake level of 163mg/day for adolescents from 12 to 14years of age, 230mg/day for adolescents above 14years of age and 263mg/day for adults. (C) 2017 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.Peer reviewe

Safety of D-ribose as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on D-ribose as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The applicant intends to market the NF as ingredient in a variety of foods, food supplements and in certain foods for specific groups. The NF is produced by fermentation using a transketolase-deficient strain of Bacillus subtilis and marketed as Bioenergy Ribose (TM). The information provided on the batch-to-batch variability, specifications, stability, production process and history of the organism used as a source of the NF is sufficient and does not raise safety concerns. The Panel considers that the effects observed in a subchronic toxicity study in rats could be the consequence of nutritional imbalances, but toxicological effects could not be ruled out; from this study, the Panel derived a No observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of 3.6 g/kg body weight (bw) per day. From the human studies indicating a potential decrease in glucose levels and/or the occurrence of transient symptomatic hypoglycaemia at intakes of 10 g of D-ribose, the Panel defined 70 mg/kg bw per day as the NOAEL with respect to hypoglycaemia that can be considered applicable for adults. For children, the Panel acknowledges the lack of human data directly relevant for this population group. Based on the NOAEL derived from the subchronic toxicity study in rats, an acceptable level of intake of 36 mg/kg bw per day was defined that would also take into account the potentially increased sensitivity of certain population groups to hypoglycaemia. The Panel concludes that the NF is safe for the general population at intake levels up to 36 mg/kg bw per day and considers that the safety of the NF at the intended uses and use levels as proposed by the applicant has not been established. (C) 2018 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.Peer reviewe

Safety of cranberry extract powder as a novel food ingredient pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 258/97

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on 'cranberry extract powder' as a novel food (NF)submitted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The NF contains about 55-60% proanthocyanidins ( PACs). The Panel considers that the information provided on the composition, the specifications, batch-to-batch variability and stability of the NF is sufficient and does not raise safety concerns. Cranberry extract powder is produced from cranberry juice concentrate through an ethanolic extraction using an adsorptive resin column to retain the phenolic components. The Panel considers that the production process is sufficiently described and does not raise concerns about the safety of the novel food. The NF is intended to be added to beverages and yogurts to provide 80 mg PACs per serving. The target population is the adult general population. The mean and 95th percentile estimates for the all-user intakes from all proposed food-uses are 68 and 192 mg/day, respectively, for female adults, and 74 mg/day and 219 mg/day, respectively, for male adults. Taking into account the composition of the novel food and the intended use levels, the Panel considers that the consumption of the NF is not nutritionally disadvantageous. While no animal toxicological studies have been conducted on the NF, a number of human clinical studies have been conducted with cranberry products. Considering the composition, manufacturing process, intake, history of consumption of the source and human data, the Panel considers that the data provided do not give reasons for safety concerns. The Panel concludes that the cranberry extract powder is safe as a food ingredient at the proposed uses and use levels. (C) 2017 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.Peer reviewe

Curcumin and normal functioning of joints : evaluation of a health claim pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

Following an application from Suomen Terveysravinto Oy, submitted for authorisation of a health claim pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of Finland, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to curcumin and normal functioning of joints. The food that is proposed as the subject of the health claim is curcumin. The Panel considers that curcumin is sufficiently characterised. The claimed effect proposed by the applicant is 'normal functioning of joints by reducing the biomarkers of inflammation'. The target population proposed by the applicant is the general population. Upon a request from EFSA to clarify whether the claimed effect is related to the normal function of joints or rather to the reduction of inflammation, the applicant did not address this issue in the reply. The Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to the maintenance of joint function. The Panel considers that maintenance of joint function is a beneficial physiological effect. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from 15 human intervention studies conducted in patients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis and from one study in obese subjects on serum cytokines for the scientific substantiation of the claim. In the absence of evidence for an effect of curcumin on the normal function of joints in humans, the results of the human studies on curcumin pharmacokinetics, safety and mechanistic studies, the animal studies and the in vitro studies submitted by the applicant cannot be used as a source of data for the scientific substantiation of the claim. The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of curcumin and maintenance of joint function. (C) 2017 European Food Safety Authority.Peer reviewe