Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to OPC Plus and reducing the risk of chronic venous insufficiency by increasing microcirculation pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

Following an application from GP International Holding B.V. submitted pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of Germany, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to OPC Plus and reducing the risk of chronic venous insufficiency by increasing microcirculation. The scope of the application was proposed to fall under a health claim referring to disease risk reduction. The food that is the subject of the health claim is OPC Plus, which contains 40 mg oligomeric procyanidins (OPC) and 40 mg berry-blend per capsule. The Panel considers that OPC Plus is sufficiently characterised with respect to OPC extracted from grape (Vitis vinifera L.) seeds. The claimed effect is “OPC improves venous microcirculation and increases capillary resistance and therefore may reduce the risk of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)”. The target population is males and females over 30 years of age. The Panel considers that the evidence provided does not establish that improving the “alterations in the venous microcirculation” is a beneficial physiological effect by reducing the risk of chronic venous insufficiency. No human intervention studies using OPC extracted from grape seeds have been provided. The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of OPC Plus and reducing the risk of chronic venous insufficiency by increasing microcirculation