Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to monomeric flavan-3-ols from apples and improvement of endothelium-dependent vasodilation (ID 1936) 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 monomeric flavan-3-ols from apples and improvement of endothelium-dependent vasodilation. 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 claims is apple flavan-3-ols. The Panel considers that monomeric flavan-3-ols from apples are sufficiently characterised. The claimed effect is “helps to maintain vascular health”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. In the context of the proposed wordings and clarifications provided by Member States, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to the improvement of endothelium-dependent vasodilation. The Panel considers that an improvement of endothelium-dependent vasodilation may be a beneficial physiological effect. No references were provided from which conclusions could be drawn for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect. On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of monomeric flavan-3-ols from apples and improvement of endothelium-dependent vasodilation.