Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to beta-glucans and maintenance or achievement of normal blood glucose concentrations (ID 756, 802, 2935) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

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 beta-glucans and maintenance or achievement of normal blood glucose concentrations. 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 are beta-glucans, which are soluble cereal fibres. Beta-glucans are non-starch polysaccharides composed of glucose molecules in long linear glucose polymers with mixed β-(1→4) and β-(1→3) links with an approximate distribution of 70% to 30%. This opinion applies to beta-glucans naturally present in foods and those forms added to foods. The Panel considers that beta-glucans are sufficiently characterised. The claimed effect is “contribution to the maintenance of healthy blood glucose levels”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. In the context of the proposed wording, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to the long-term maintenance or achievement of normal blood glucose concentrations. The Panel considers that long-term maintenance or achievement of normal blood glucose concentrations is a beneficial physiological effect. In weighing the evidence the Panel took into account that the only two studies presented from which conclusions could be drawn for the substantiation of the claim showed no effect of beta-glucans consumption on the long-term maintenance or achievement of normal blood glucose concentrations. On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of beta-glucans and the long-term maintenance or achievement of normal blood glucose concentrations.