EFSA raises the bar

Protection of LDL particles from oxidative damage may be a beneficial health effect of antioxidants, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA). The Panel considers oxidized LDL, as measured by the Mercodia Oxidized LDL ELISA, a reliable marker for oxidative damage of lipids.

Since the discovery that people whose diets were rich in fruits and vegetables had a lower incidence of developing diseases associated with free radical damage, research in the antioxidant field has accelerated. Consumer interest in the benefits of antioxidant consumption also increased, resulting in an increase in global sales of antioxidants and foods recognized as being naturally rich in antioxidants. With this growing demand, new “hot” antioxidants were launched at the slightest hint of a substance’s beneficial health effects, often without scientific support.

Within the European Union, Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 harmonizes the provisions that relate to nutrition and health claims, and establishes rules on the approval of food-related health claims. To further assist applicants in the preparation and submission of their applications for approval of health claims for antioxidants, the EFSA’s NDA Panel released a scientific opinion draft based on published studies. This document was released for public review in April 2011.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is widely used as a marker for oxidative stress status in nutritional studies and was also considered by the NDA to be a reliable marker for oxidative damage to lipids if measured with immunoassays with appropriate specificity. Mercodia Oxidized LDL ELISA tests are based on the monoclonal antibody 4E6, directed against a conformational epitope in the ApoB-100 moiety of LDL that is generated as a consequence of substitution of at least 60 lysine residues of Apo B-100 with aldehydes (Holvoet, 2004). In the EFSA’s scientific opinion document regarding the substantiation of health claims related to polyphenols in olives and their protection of LDL particles from oxidative damage based on studies in which the Mercodia Oxidized LDL ELISA (10-1143-01) was used, the Panel noted the use of a valid biomarker for assessing oxidation of LDL particles, and the dose-dependent response observed between the intake of polyphenols in olive oil and the decrease in LDL oxidation in the target population, assumed to be the general population.

The Panel concludes that “a cause and effect relationship has been established between the consumption of olive oil polyphenols (standardized by the content of hydroxytyrosol and its derivatives) and protection of LDL particles from oxidative damage” and that the following wording reflects the scientific evidence: “Consumption of olive oil polyphenols contributes to the protection of blood lipids from oxidative damage”.

References

EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA); Draft guidance on the scientific requirements for health claims related to antioxidants, oxidative damage and cardiovascular health released for public consultation. EFSA Journal 20xx;x(x):xxxx. [12 pp.]. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.20NN.NNNN. Available online: www.efsa.europa.eu/efsajournal

EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA); Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to polyphenols in olive and protection of LDL particles from oxidative damage (ID 1333, 1638, 1639, 1696, 2865), maintenance of normal blood HDL-cholesterol concentrations (ID 1639), maintenance of normal blood pressure (ID 3781), “anti-inflammatory properties” (ID 1882), “contributes to the upper respiratory tract health” (ID 3468), “can help to maintain a normal function of gastrointestinal tract” (3779), and “contributes to body defences against external agents” (ID 3467) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. EFSA Journal 2011;9(4):2033 [25 pp.]. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2011.2033. Available online: www.efsa.europa.eu/efsajournal

Holvoet (2004) Oxidized LDL and coronary heart disease. Acta Cardiol 59(5): 479-84