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/DHA Omega-3 (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
o Condition of use: 2g/day of DHA in one or more servings
o Target population: adult men and women

• Maintenance of normal brain function
o Condition of use: foods should contain 250 mg of DHA in one or more servings
o Target population: general

• Maintenance of normal vision
o Condition of use: foods should contain 250 mg of DHA in one or more servings
o Target population: general

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
o condition of use: intake of EPA and DHA of about 250 mg/day
o target population: general

• Maintenance of normal blood pressure (previously assessed)

• Maintenance of normal (fasting) blood concentrations of triglycerides (previously assessed)
o With reference to its previous opinion, the Panel said that intake of EPA and DHA of 2 g per day are required to obtain the claimed effect. Such an amount can be consumed as part of a balanced diet.

In general, these are positive developments for the recognition of EPA and DHA, further cementing their role 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 a number of claims, including all claims for EPA alone:

• DHA and protection of blood lipids from oxidative damage,
• DHA and contribution to the maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight,
• DHA and maintenance of normal spermatozoa motility,
• EPA and enhancement of mood,
• EPA and calming,
• EPA and increased attention,
• EPA and increase in appetite after unintentional weight loss leading to an increase in energy intake,
• EPA and protection of blood lipids from oxidative damage,
• EPA+DHA and long-term maintenance of normal blood glucose concentrations,
• EPA+DHA and protection of the skin from photo-oxidative (UV-induced) damage,
• EPA+DHA and contribution to the normal function of the immune system by decreasing the levels of eicosanoids, arachidonic acid-derived mediators and pro-inflammatory cytokines,
• EPA+DHA and maintenance of normal blood HDL-cholesterol concentrations (previously assessed), and
• EPA+DHA and maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations (previously assessed).