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Following an application from Procter & Gamble BV pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of Belgium, the Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to choline and contribution to normal liver function of the foetus and exclusively breastfed infant. The scope of the application was proposed to fall under a health claim referring to children's development and health. The Panel considers that choline is sufficiently characterised. The claimed effect proposed by the applicant is contribution 'to normal foetal and infant development, especially liver'. The proposed target population is 'unborn fetuses and breastfed infants'. Choline is involved in the structure of cell membranes, cell signalling, metabolism and transport of lipids and cholesterol and neurotransmitter synthesis. Although choline can be synthesised de novo by the human body, depletion‐repletion studies in humans show that low choline intake leads to liver dysfunction and muscle damage, which are reverted by the administration of dietary choline. For these functions, de novo synthesis of choline by the human body is insufficient and choline must be obtained from dietary sources. No human studies have addressed the effect of low maternal dietary choline intake on liver function in the fetus or exclusively breastfed infants. However, the Panel considers that the biological role of choline in normal liver function and dietary choline being essential for the function applies to all ages, including fetus and infants. The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the intake of choline by pregnant and lactating women and contribution to normal liver function of the fetus and exclusively breastfed infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following an application from Nestlé S.A. submitted for authorisation of a health claim pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of Belgium, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to beta‐glucans from oats and/or barley in a ready‐to‐eat cereal manufactured via pressure cooking and reduction of blood glucose rise after consumption. The scope of the application was proposed to fall under a health claim based on newly developed scientific evidence. The food proposed is ‘beta‐glucans from oats and/or barley incorporated into ready‐to‐eat breakfast cereals manufactured via pressure cooking’. The applicant proposed that at least 1.3 g of beta‐glucans/25 g of available carbohydrates in ready‐to‐eat breakfast cereals manufactured via pressure cooking should be consumed. Beta‐glucans from oats, barley or any combination thereof incorporated into ready‐to‐eat cereals manufactured by pressure cooking, are sufficiently characterised. The claimed effect proposed is ‘reduction of the blood glucose rise after the meal’. The reduction of post‐prandial glycaemic responses (as long as post‐prandial insulinaemic responses are not disproportionally increased) may be a beneficial physiological effect. One human intervention study showed an effect of beta‐glucans from oats and/or barley, incorporated into breakfast cereals manufactured via pressure cooking at a level of at least 1.2 g/25 g available carbohydrates, on decreasing post‐prandial glycaemic responses without disproportionally increasing insulinaemic responses. Dose–response relationships were not tested, and no evidence has been provided that beta‐glucans incorporated into cereals processed using pressure cooking would exert a higher effect on post‐prandial glucose responses than beta‐glucans added to other carbohydrate containing foods. Whereas the effect of beta‐glucans in reducing post‐prandial blood glucose responses is well established, the evidence provided is insufficient to establish such an effect at doses of 1.3 g beta‐glucans per 25 g of available carbohydrate incorporated into ready‐to‐eat breakfast cereals manufactured via pressure cooking (i.e. either batch cooking or extrusion). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]