Health claim: a positive opinion from EFSA on isomaltulose

A new EFSA opinion has been published on October 20, 2021, on a health claim on isomatulose and energy-yielding metabolism. The application, submitted by Beneo GmbH, has been submitted pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.

Isomaltulose is a disaccharide carbohydrate, composed of glucose and fructose, linked by an alpha-1,6-glycosidic bond. The application provided a number of human studies applying indirect calorimetry measurements or stable isotope methodologies have shown the postprandial metabolic utilisation of isomaltulose as energy source.

However, EFSA noted that all energy-containing macronutrients (i.e. carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids) supply the body with energy and this property is not specific to isomaltulose. EFSA concluded therefore that the claimed effect was substantiated. However, the NDA panel was unable to set conditions of use for the claim since all energy containing macronutrients can contribute to the effects at any amount.

EFSA NDA Panel (EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens), Turck D, Bohn T, Castenmiller J, De Henauw S, Hirsch-Ernst KI, Knutsen HK, Maciuk A, Mangelsdorf I, McArdle HJ, Naska A, Pelaez C, Pentieva K, Thies F, Tsabouri S, Vinceti M, Bresson J-L and Siani A, 2021. Scientific Opinion on the isomaltulose and normal energy-yielding metabolism: evaluation of a health claim pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. EFSA Journal 2021;19 (10):6849.