Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to VeriSol ® P and a change in skin elasticity leading to an improvement in skin function pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

Abstract Following an application from Gelita AG, submitted pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of Germany, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to VeriSol ® P and a change in skin elasticity leading to an improvement in skin function. The Panel considers that the food, VeriSol ® P, which is the subject of the health claim, is sufficiently characterised. The claimed effect proposed by the applicant is “maintenance of skin health, as indicated by an increased skin elasticity and a reduction of wrinkles volume”. The target population proposed by the applicant is the general adult population. The Panel considers that a change in skin elasticity leading to an improvement in skin function is a beneficial physiological effect. The applicant presented two human studies, one animal study and one in vitro study as being pertinent to the health claim. No conclusions can be drawn from one of the two human studies as it did not assess a function of the skin. The second human study assessed a function, i.e. the water barrier function, of the skin, but did not show an effect on this function. In the absence of evidence for an effect on skin function in humans, the animal and in vitro studies cannot be used for the scientific substantiation of the claim. The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of VeriSol ® P and a change in skin elasticity leading to an improvement in skin function.