08
Sep
Scientific substantiation of Fruitflow by EFSA
Comments
Fruitflow is a water-soluble tomato extract that is marketed as a dietary supplement and claimed to contribute to normal platelet aggregation, blood flow, and healthy circulation.
- The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) evaluated the scientific substantiation of the health claims related to Fruitflow and provided an opinion in 2013.
- The EFSA concluded that a cause-and-effect relationship had been established between the consumption of Fruitflow and the claimed effect on platelet aggregation. However, the evidence was insufficient to support the claims related to blood flow and healthy circulation.
- The most recent “Guidance for the scientific requirements for health claims related to antioxidants, oxidative damage, and cardiovascular health” was released by EFSA in January 2018 (EFSA 2018).
- According to the recommendations, a specific claim should be made in addition to the general statement that cardiovascular health is not sufficiently defined for a scientific evaluation. Subjects with cardiovascular (CV) risk factors are more likely to experience states of platelet hyperactivity and hypercoagulability. In contrast, healthy individuals at extremely low risk for cardiovascular disease typically have non-activated circulating platelets. Therefore, EFSA views a decrease in platelet aggregation as a positive physiological effect.
- EFSA also noted that the effective dose of Fruitflow was not clearly established, and there were some concerns regarding the safety of long-term use of the extract.
Therefore, EFSA concluded that the evidence was not sufficient to support the claimed effects of Fruitflow on blood flow and healthy circulation, and additional studies were needed to clarify the safety and efficacy of the extract [1].