Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to phospholipids and protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage (ID 1834), memory, learning capacity and attention, and function of the nervous system (ID 1835) 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 was asked to provide a scientific opinion on a list of health claims pursuant to Article 13 of Regulation 1924/2006. This opinion addresses the scientific substantiation of health claims in relation to phospholipids and the following claimed effects: protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage, and memory, learning capacity and attention, and function of the nervous system. The scientific substantiation is based on the information provided by the Member States in the consolidated list of Article 13 health claims and references that EFSA has received from Member States or directly from stakeholders. The food constituent that is the subject of the health claims is phospholipids. The proposed source of phospholipids is from animal lecithin water emulsion derived from the brain tissue of domestic pig. No information was provided on either the production process or the composition of this phospholipid emulsion. The Panel considers that the food constituent, phospholipids, which is the subject of the health claims, is not sufficiently characterised. Protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage The claimed effect "immunity" is not sufficiently defined but in the context of the proposed wording, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to "repairing oxidation damage of cells". The Panel considers that the protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage is beneficial to human health. As the information provided in the list is insufficient to characterise phospholipids that are the subject of the health claim and as none of the references cited were related to the protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of phospholipids and protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage. Memory, learning capacity and attention, and function of the nervous system The claimed effect is "mental state and performance". In the context of the proposed wording, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to memory, learning and concentration (attention), and function of the nervous system. The Panel considers that normal memory, learning capacity and attention, and normal function of the nervous system are beneficial to human health. As the information provided in the list is insufficient to characterise phospholipids that are the subject of the health claim and as the references provided did not address the claimed effects, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of phospholipids and normal memory, learning capacity and concentration, and normal function of the nervous system.