EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA); Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to phaseolamine and reduction in body weight (ID 1701) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006
In the EFSA Journal, 2011
Abstract
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 phaseolamine and reduction in 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 the subject of the health claim is phaseolamine. The Panel considers that phaseolamine is sufficiently characterised in relation to the claimed effect. The claimed effect is “inhibit α-amylase activity, hindering the conversion of complex carbohydrate to simple sugars, which are stored as reservoir fats if not immediately utilised by the organism; it results in a lower calories intake, contributing to weight loss”. The target population is assumed to be overweight individuals in the general population who wish to reduce their body weight. In the context of the proposed wordings, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to a reduction in body weight. The Panel considers that reduction in body weight is a beneficial physiological effect. In weighing the evidence, the Panel took into account that although one short-term (30 day) intervention study in humans showed an effect of phaseolamine consumption on reduction in body weight, a second human intervention study, using higher phaseolamine doses and of longer duration (eight weeks), did not show an effect of phaseolamine consumption on body weight changes at any time point considered. On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of phaseolamine and reduction in body weight.
Info
Report, 2011
In the EFSA Journal, 2011
UN SDG Classification
DK Main Research Area
Science/Technology