Scientific opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to maize oil and maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations (ID 3086) 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 maize oil and maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol 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 that is the subject of the health claim is maize oil. The Panel considers that maize oil is sufficiently characterised in relation to the claimed effect. The claimed effect is “corn oil with a guaranteed polyunsaturated fatty acids content (56 % of total fatty acids), supplemented with vitamin E”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. In the context of the proposed wordings, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to maintenance of normal LDL-blood cholesterol concentrations. The Panel considers that maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations is a beneficial physiological effect. No studies that investigated whether maize oil had a cholesterol-lowering effect beyond what could be expected from the fatty acid composition of maize oil have been provided. On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of maize oil and maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations beyond what could be expected from the fatty acid composition of maize oil. A claim on the replacement of mixtures of SFAs with cis-MUFAs and/or cis-PUFAs in foods or diets and maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations has already been assessed with a favourable outcome. A claim on linoleic acid and maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations has also already been assessed with a favourable outcome.