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Reviews for High Level Claims

High level health claims are based on the evidence for a diet-disease/biomarker relationship. FSANZ has developed a framework for assessing the evidence, which is referred to as the ‘Substantiation Framework’. A number of diet-disease/biomarker relationships that have been reviewed by external experts will form the basis of pre-approved high level health claims. Those that are assessed as ‘convincing’ will be included in Standard 1.2.7 at gazettal.

Diet-disease/biomarker relationships initially considered in the pre-approval process were identified through a consultative process which drew on targeted workshops held mid-2004, public consultation on the P293 Initial Assessment Report, and feedback from the Health Claims Standards Development Advisory Committee (SDAC). Seven diet-disease/biomarker relationships selected for review reference information contained in the Australian and New Zealand Dietary Guidelines. External experts were then engaged by FSANZ to review each of the diet-disease/biomarker relationships.

Five of the diet-disease/biomarker relationships (#1 – 5 in the table below) were assessed as reaching a convincing level of evidence by the Scientific Advisory Group for the Development of the Substantiation Framework for Nutrition, Health and Related Claims . Two diet-disease relationships (#6 and 7 below) were assessed as not reaching a convincing level of evidence.

DIET - DISEASE RELATIONSHIPS REVIEWED

1. Sodium (with or without potassium) AND hypertension

2. Fruit & vegetables AND coronary heart disease

3. Saturated fat and/or trans fat AND elevated serum cholesterol or heart disease

4. Calcium (with or without Vitamin D) AND osteoporosis

5. Folic acid AND neural tube defects

6. Wholegrains AND coronary heart disease

7. Omega-3 fatty acids AND cardiovascular disease

FSANZ Consideration of the Review of therelationship between omega -3 fatty acid intake and risk of cardiovascular disease Professor Peter Howe¹, Dr Trevor Mori², Associate Professor Jon Buckley¹, University of South Australia, 2University of Western Australia	[ pdf ]
Dietary fruit and vegetable intake and risk of coronary heart disease Ms Elisabeth Winkler (Research Officer) Associate Professor Carla Patterson Professor Beth Newman School of Public Health, Queensland University of Technology	[ pdf kb ]
Relationship between wholegrain intake and risk of coronary heart disease Dr David Topping Chief Research Scientist CSIRO Diet & Nutrition, Adelaide	[ pdf 383 kb] [ pdf ] FSANZ consideration of review
The relationship between omega -3 fatty acid intake and risk of cardiovascular disease Professor Peter Howe, University of South Australia Dr Trevor Mori, University of South Australia Associate Professor Jon Buckley, University of Western Australia	[ pdf 563 kb ]
The relationship between dietary calcium intake, alone or in association with Vitamin D status, and risk of developing osteoporosis. Prof Ian R Reid MD, FRSNZ Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, New Zealand	[ pdf 318 kb ]
The relationship between dietary sodium intake, alone or in combination with potassium intake, and risk of hypertension in adults. Samir Samman Associate Professor Human Nutrition Unit School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences The University of Sydney NSW	[ pdf 181kb ]
*The relationship between saturated and trans* unsaturated fatty acids and LDL-cholesterol and coronary heart disease.** Chris Booker, BSc(Hons) Jim Mann, CNZM, FRSNZ Edgar National Centre for Diabetes Research, Departments of Medicine and Human Nutrition, University of Otago, New Zealand	[ pdf 912kb ]
The relationship between dietary folate intake of women of childbearing age and risk of neural tube defects. Tim Green Elias Green Dunedin, New Zealand	[ pdf 287kb ]