EFSA health claim opinion
EFSA issues first positive prebiotic opinion – or does it?
“It is the first positive opinion on a prebiotic but not as a result of its prebiotic effect,” said prebiotics researcher, Professor Bob Rastall, head of the department of food sciences at the University of Reading.
“EFSA rejected the claim on the prebiotic effect to decrease potentially pathogenic gastro-intestinal microorganisms but accepted the osmotic laxation claim.”
Rastall said such a gut health mechanism was common to other sugars and sugar alcohols.
“This is well established. This is not a prebiotic effect, which refers to manipulation of the microbial ecology (such as a reduction in pathogens such as Clostridium perfringens or increase in probiotic bacteria).”
In the opinion, EFSA’s health claims panel stated: “Lactulose as a synthetic sugar is used in the treatment of constipation. In the colon, lactulose is broken down to lactic acid and to small amounts of acetic and formic acids by the action of beta-galactosidases from colonic bacteria.”
“This process leads to an increase in osmotic pressure and slight acidification of the colonic content causing an increase in stool water content and softening of the stools.”
The panel approved the claim,“Lactulose contributes to a reduction in intestinal transit time” when consumed at a level of 10g per day.
The opinion can be found here.
Useful
Lactulose is a disaccharide consisting of galactose and glucose traditionally used in the pharma sector for its laxative effects.
Belgian supplier Solvay said the EFSA opinion, though yet to be affirmed by the European Commission and member states and added to the European Union register of approved claims, would ease the ingredient’s passage into the food and supplements sector.
Nutrition program manager, Pascal Ronfard said his company was actively pursuing food partners now that the opinion had come in and these included dairy, juice and cereal players. Probiotic partners were also being sought at the ingredient development level.
He noted more than 2000 studies had been completed on lactulose and a claim was approved in Belgium in 2005 which had been in use in some member states under EU mutual recognition principles.
Products included a fruit juice in Germany, baked products in France, infant nutrition products in northern Europe and fermented milk in the Ukraine.
“Lactulose is an affordable solution compared to other premium products on the market,” Ronfard said, noting a 10g dosage could be delivered for less than €0.10.
