Skip to content
Research Article Open access CC BY 4.0

Supplements in the European Union: An Analysis of Health Claims Related to Articular Joint Health

Madalena Bettencourt-Câmara, Bruno Sepodes, Rosário Bronze, Maria-Eduardo Figueira

European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety · pp. 12–35 · Published 16 Sep 2015

10.9734/EJNFS/2016/19031

Abstract

In the European Union, amino acids, enzymes, pre- and probiotics, essential fatty acids, botanicals and botanical extracts and miscellaneous bioactive substances can be marketed as food supplements (FS). Food supplements that are meant to benefit human health contain claims on their label stating their benefits. Since 2007, health claims made on FS, are prohibited unless they are authorized and included in the EU Register of Nutrition and Health Claims on Food (the EU Register), in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EC) nº 1924/2006. Aims: This manuscript reviews the evidence required to support health claims made on FS considering the legal framework of these foodstuffs and, as a case study, analyses the health claims on articular joint health included in the EU Register. The EFSA scientific opinions related to those health claims have also been considered. In EU, some botanicals and miscellaneous bioactive substances can be marketed as medicinal or as food supplements. The regulatory issues on botanicals and the debate on how to create a regulatory framework for botanicals is mentioned. Results: By April 2015, 77 functional health claims on joints health were included in the EU Register. The status of all these claims was non-authorised. The great majority were Article 13.1 claims (91%). All functional claims related to articular joints function were made on target functional ingredients, mainly other substances that could be used in the manufacturing of FS. Human trials conducted in diseased population were the main statement from EFSA for the non-approval of the health claims on articular joints. Criteria and more guidance addressing methodological issues on human trials would benefit future applications and scientific research. Conclusion: Legal issues regarding other substances than vitamins and minerals, namely botanical ingredients should also be taken in account in future FS health claims on articular joints. On this subject, efforts to improve the existing regulatory framework, namely with regard to botanicals products could also benefit future FS health claims.

Food supplements health claims health outcomes EFSA articular joint rheumatoid arthritis.

References (38)

  1. 1 Home visits: a strategy to improve newborn survival - Authors' reply [DOI]
  2. 2 Global status report on noncommunicable diseases 2010.
  3. 3 Epidemiology of adult rheumatoid arthritis [DOI]
  4. 4 Rheumatoid arthritis [DOI]
  5. 5 Journal of the American college of nutrition [DOI]
  6. 6 Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to polyphenols in olive and protection of LDL particles from oxidative damage (ID 1333, 1638, 1639, 1696, 2865), maintenance of normal blood HDL cholesterol concentrations (ID 1639), maintenance of normal blood pressure (ID 3781), “anti‐inflammatory properties” (ID 1882), “contributes to the upper respiratory tract health” (ID 3468), “can help to maintain a normal function of gastrointestinal tract” (3779), and “contributes to body defences against external agents” (ID 3467) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 [DOI]
  7. 7 Epidemiology of hip and knee pain and its impact on overall health status in older adults [DOI]
  8. 8 Raspberries and Human Health: A Review [DOI]
  9. 9 Evaluation of the Effect of Neptune Krill Oil on Chronic Inflammation and Arthritic Symptoms [DOI]
  10. 10 Functional foods and dietary supplements: Products at the interface between pharma and nutrition [DOI]
  11. 11 Status of nutrition and health claims in Europe [DOI]
  12. 12 Anti-inflammatory Effects of Polyphenolic-Enriched Red Raspberry Extract in an Antigen-Induced Arthritis Rat Model [DOI]
  13. 13 Scientific and technical guidance for the preparation and presentation of an application for authorisation of a health claim (revision 1) [DOI]
  14. 14 Quantifying the economic burden of productivity loss in rheumatoid arthritis [DOI]
  15. 15 General guidance for stakeholders on the evaluation of Article 13.1, 13.5 and 14 health claims [DOI]
  16. 16 Regulations applicable to plant food supplements and related products in the European Union [DOI]
  17. 17 Pest categorisation of Mycodiella laricis‐leptolepidis [DOI]
  18. 18 What is a health benefit? An evaluation of EFSA opinions on health benefits with reference to probiotics [DOI]
  19. 19 Implementation of the nutrition and health claim regulation – The case of antioxidants [DOI]
  20. 20 Chemical characterization of a red raspberry fruit extract and evaluation of its pharmacological effects in experimental models of acute inflammation and collagen-induced arthritis [DOI]
  21. 21 Preparing dossiers: strength of the evidence and problems of proof [DOI]
  22. 22 Methodologic issues in clinical trials for prevention or risk reduction in osteoarthritis [DOI]
  23. 23 Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to vitamin C and protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage (ID 129, 138, 143, 148), antioxidant function of lutein (ID 146), maintenance of vision (ID 141, 142), collagen [DOI]
  24. 24 Establishing and Evaluating Health Claims for Probiotics [DOI]
  25. 25 Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to zinc and function of the immune system (ID 291, 1757), DNA synthesis and cell division (ID 292, 1759), protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage (ID 294, 1758), mainte [DOI]
  26. 26 Deoxycytidine kinase promotes the migration and invasion of fibroblast-like synoviocytes from rheumatoid arthritis patients.
  27. 27 Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to gamma linolenic acid and maintenance of joints (ID 494, 637, 1774, 2098), weight maintenance following weight loss (ID 496), maintenance of peripheral blood flow (ID 638), maintenance of normal blood pressure (ID 1771), maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations (ID 1771) and maintenance of bone (ID 1774) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 [DOI]
  28. 28 Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to collagen hydrolysate and maintenance of joints pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 [DOI]
  29. 29 Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to boron and maintenance of bone (ID 218, 219) and maintenance of joints (ID 219, 220) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 [DOI]
  30. 30 Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to glucosamine and maintenance of normal joint cartilage pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 [DOI]
  31. 31 Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to Cynatine® and maintenance of normal joint mobility pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 [DOI]
  32. 32 Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to krill oil and maintenance of joint comfort pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 [DOI]
  33. 33 Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to various food(s)/food constituent(s) claiming maintenance of joints (ID 1799, 1973, 2022, 2178, 2202, 2254, 2255, 2311, 2394, 2417, 2418, 2458, 2649, 2794, 2798, 3119, 3144, 3274, 3283, 3318, 3339, 3495, 3511, 3523, 3555, 3624, 3699, 3748, 3770, 3835, 3884, 3892, 3904, 3943, 3978, 4012, 4020, 4056, 4137, 4175), maintenance of bone (ID 1764, 1907, 2418, 4012, 4020, 4056, 4175) and maintenance of muscles (ID 2254, 2311) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 [DOI]
  34. 34 Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to various food(s)/food constituents(s) and “immune function/immune system” (ID 433, 605, 645, 791, 1384, 1451, 1624, 1743, 1776, 1838, 1851, 1854, 1891, 1895, 3074, 3191, 3211, 3218, 3336, [DOI]
  35. 35 Health claims assessment in the field of joint and cartilage: a consensus viewpoint of the Group for the Respect of Ethics and Excellence in Science [DOI]
  36. 36 Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to methylsulfonylmethane alone or in combination with glucosamine hydrochloride and maintenance of joints (ID 395, 1616, 1617) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 [DOI]
  37. 37 Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related toEffEXT™ and “helps to support joint function by maintaining low levels of plasma C-reactive protein” pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 [DOI]
  38. 38 Outcome of a public consultation on the Draft Opinion of the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition, and Allergies (NDA) on a guidance on the scientific requirements for health claims related to bone, joints, skin, and oral health [DOI]

Cited by 6

The presence of unauthorized ingredients in dietary supplements: An analysis of the risk warning data in Korea

Dasom Shin, Jeongeun Kwon, Hui-Seung Kang · Journal of Food Composition and Analysis · 2022

Drug adulteration of food supplements: A threat to public health in the European Union?

Edyta Czepielewska, Magdalena Makarewicz-Wujec, Filip Różewski · Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology · 2018

Enrichment of Pasteurized Dairy Product and Brownie With Edible Insect ( Tenebrio molitor ) to Analyze Acceptance Using Check‐All‐That‐Apply Methodology

Marta Ros‐Baró, Marta Capellas Puig, Gemma Chiva‐Blanch · Food Science & Nutrition · 2025

Showing 3 of 6 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.

Related research

Article metrics

Real usage data collected on this platform.

69

Page views

0

PDF downloads

25

Outbound clicks

6

Citations

Views over time

Views by country

Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".

Traffic sources

Referring site, by host.

Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.