Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to ProteQuine® and increasing suppressed concentrations of secretory IgA and reducing the risk of influenza and common cold pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

Following an application from SVUS Pharma a.s. submitted pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of the Czech Republic, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to ProteQuine^® and initiation of the appropriate innate and adaptive immune responses aiming at the defence against pathogens. The scope of the application was proposed to fall under a health claim referring to disease risk reduction. The Panel considers that the food constituent, ProteQuine^®, which is the subject of the health claim, is sufficiently characterised. The Panel considers that increasing suppressed concentrations of secretory IgA might be a beneficial physiological effect in the context of reducing the risk of influenza and common cold. Two published human studies and five unpublished reports were identified by the applicant as being pertinent to the health claim. The Panel notes that no evidence has been provided that increasing suppressed concentrations of secretory IgA is accompanied by a reduced incidence, severity or frequency of upper respiratory tract infections, including influenza and common cold. On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of ProteQuine^® and increasing suppressed concentrations of secretory IgA and reducing the risk of influenza and common cold.