Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to polyphenols in olive and maintenance of normal blood HDL cholesterol concentrations (ID 1639, further assessment) 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 (NDA) was asked to provide a scientific opinion on a health claim pursuant to Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 in the framework of further assessment related to polyphenols in olive and maintenance of normal blood HDL-cholesterol concentrations. The food constituent, polyphenols in olive (olive fruit, olive mill waste waters or olive oil, Olea europaea L. extract and leaf) standardised by their content of hydroxytyrosol and its derivatives (e.g. oleuropein complex), that is the subject of the health claim is sufficiently characterised. The claimed effect, maintenance of normal blood HDL-cholesterol concentrations, which is eligible for further assessment, is a beneficial physiological effect. The proposed target population is the general population. No evidence from which conclusions could be drawn for the scientific substantiation of the claim, in addition to the Panel’s earlier opinion, was provided. The Panel considers that no data were submitted which would require a reconsideration of the conclusions expressed in its previous opinion, in which it concluded that the evidence provided was insufficient to establish a cause and effect relationship between the consumption of olive oil polyphenols (standardised by the content of hydroxytyrosol and its derivatives) and maintenance of normal blood HDL cholesterol concentrations.