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In today’s society, informed decision making and consumer choice are key concepts. It is important that consumers are informed of new evidence which may assist them in adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle as well as reducing their risk of disease but the advice needs to be valid and trustworthy and with a strong evidence base. For many people, choosing foods means looking at food labels. Claims about the nutritional value and health benefits are often the first and the strongest impression people get about the healthiness of a food².

However, a review of current health and nutrition claims on food products, carried out on behalf of the UK Food Standards Agency³ confirmed that individuals do struggle when it comes to understanding what claims really mean. Whilst many find ‘nutrition and health claims’ useful and are guided by them when addressing particular health concerns, many remain confused or unconvinced about the health claims found on packaging. In fact a recent study found that only 44% of the UK population actually trust nutrition claims made by food and drink companies⁴.

It is therefore, welcome news that consumer confidence in health claims has just been given a boost as the first disease risk reduction claims have been authorised as part of new Health Claim Regulations across Europe.

Plant Stanol Esters and Plant Sterols: Proven to lower cholesterol. High cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease

Disease risk reduction claims relating to Plant Stanol Esters (which are unique to the Benecol^® range of foods) and Plant Sterols (found in products such as Flora Pro-activ) were amongst the first disease risk reduction claims to be authorised by the new European Health Claims Regulation, which requires all food manufacturers to substantiate their health claims with scientific evidence.

Not only does the authorisation further validate the already established role that Plant Stanol Esters and Plant Sterols can play in cholesterol reduction, it also acknowledges that ‘high cholesterol is a risk factor in the development of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)’⁵. This positive opinion follows the rigorous review of the science by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

‘Disease risk reduction’ claims are a regulatory landmark

The approval of ‘disease risk reduction’ claims is a regulatory landmark event. It is the first time that food companies can suggest or imply that the consumption of a food category, a food or one of its constituents can significantly reduce a risk factor in the development of a human disease for example, coronary heart disease. The approval of ‘disease risk reduction’ claims for foods will give you added assurance in identifying and recommending foods to your patients that are proven to have a positive impact on their health.

What do the ‘disease risk reduction’ health boosting claims for Plant Stanol Esters and Plant Sterols mean for your patients?

As health professionals, you play a vital role in encouraging and empowering patients to take control of their health. With raised cholesterol affecting 2 out of 3 people aged 16 and over in the UK⁶ there has never been a more important time to focus on this essential area of healthcare. Cholesterol, alongside obesity, smoking, type 2 diabetes, stress and lack of exercise is one of the main risk factors for CHD with about 40% of deaths from CHD being attributed to high cholesterol alone⁶. Sadly and despite efforts so far, CHD is still the commonest cause of death in the UK, causing around 94,000 deaths a year⁶.

Lowering cholesterol through diet

The foundation for healthy cholesterol levels must start with a healthy balanced diet - and the Food Standards Agency Eatwell Plate clearly demonstrates the different types of foods that should be eaten, with the suggested proportion sizes⁷.

Figure 1: The Food Standard Agency’s eatwell plate

It is noteworthy, that taken every day no other foods are more effective than Plant Stanol Esters enriched foods at lowering cholesterol⁸. A reduction in LDL cholesterol of about 10% is achievable when 2g of Plant Stanols or Plant Sterols is included daily as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle⁹.

Research confirms that 2g of plant stanols or plant sterols per day is proven to lower cholesterol, eating more than 3g per day provides no additional benefit and is therefore not recommended. The beneficial effect may be lost when patients stop using the product⁹. 2g of Plant Stanols can be obtained by consuming three portions of foods enriched with Plant Stanol Esters (which are unique to the Benecol^® range of foods) for example, margarines and dairy products. Alternatively 2g can be achieved by drinking one Benecol^® ‘one a day’ yogurt drink, dairy free drink or a Benecol^® fruit and dairy smoothie or one Flora Pro.activ^® mini drink.

Plant Stanol Ester and Plant Sterol enriched foods works with statins

Clinical studies prove that Plant Stanol Ester and Plant Sterol enriched foods are complimentary to any statin medication your patients may be prescribed and may reduce their cholesterol levels even further than statin therapy alone⁸.

Important Milestone for European Consumers

The authorisation for a disease risk reduction claim granted to food products within the European Community, represents an important milestone in consumer decision-making and is on track to ‘revolutionise’ the use of health claims in Europe.

Your patients can be reassured that they can confidently trust the cholesterol lowering health claims of foods enriched with Plant Stanol Esters and Plant Sterols, secure in the knowledge that the science underpinning them has gone through rigorous and independent expert scrutiny.

References

1. World Health Organisation (2002). The World Health Report 2002. Reducing Risk, Promoting Healthy Life. World Health Organisation; Geneva.
2. Nutrition and Health Claims on food labelling. The British Dietetic Association fact sheet. May 2007
3. Review and analysis of current literature on consumer understanding of nutrition and health claims made by a food. COI Communications on behalf of the Food Standards Agency. 20th April 2007
4. 'Functional Food, Drinks & Ingredients: Consumer Attitudes & Trends'. Report by Datamonitor. March 2006
5. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Plant Stanol Esters and Blood Cholesterol The EFSA Journal 2008; 825: 2 – 2
6. British Heart Foundation. Coronary Heart Disease Statistics. Factsheet 2008/2009
7. Food Standard Agency : http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet/eatwellplate/
8. Blair, S et al. Incremental Reduction of Serum Total Cholesterol and Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol With the Addition of Plant Stanol Ester-Containing Spread to Statin Therapy. American Journal of Cardiology 2000;86:46–52
9. Law, M. Plant sterol and stanol margarines and health. British Medical Journal 2000; 320: 861-864

This article is the sole work of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Johnson & Johnson Medical Limited or any of its affiliated business or companies, nor does the publication of this article on the CareMail website comprise an endorsement of its contents, for which Johnson & Johnson Medical Limited and its affiliated businesses and companies accept no responsibility. In particular no such Johnson & Johnson entity shall be liable for any damages or injury resulting from any reliance placed on any information provided in this article or for any possible inaccurate or misleading data or statements contained therein.

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