| Essence |
Alpha-Tocopherol or E307 is the synthetic vitamin E that is used as an additive. Meaning, it is the “dl-” form of the vitamin (synthetic). |
| Names |
Vitamin E, Synthetic Vitamin E, Dl-Alpha Tocopherol, INS 307, DL-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate, Synthetic Vitamin E Concentrate, Tocopherol, E307, Alpha-Tocopherol, and others. |
| Sourcing |
Commercially, it is typically created through chemical synthesis (2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone and isophytol). |
| Manufacturing |
To create Dl-Alpha-Tocopherol, we mix the sourcing ingredients in the presence of catalysts tridecyl amine and zinc chloride. The outcome of that is then separated to obtain a phase containing dl-α-tocopherol, which is then processed to remove any remaining water using an evaporator under low pressure. This then undergoes distillation. |
| Application |
Antioxidant (synthetic, fat-soluble) and preservative. |
| Acceptable Daily Intake |
Supposedly, it’s safe in amounts of up to 2 milligrams on every kilogram of body weight. |
| Side Effects |
Most will say that this additive has no side effects because of its vitamin E activity. That said, in reality, there is much that can backfire, especially, when using this synthetic vitamin in high amounts. It’s known to be toxic and possibly cause cancer. |
| Benefits |
Due to its vitamin E activity, it can supposedly be beneficial (like promoting skin health and lung function, battling oxidative stress, improving brain health, and more). But I wouldn’t bet on it since there are inherent dangers because of it being synthetic. |
| Studies |
450+ studies on Pubmed. Less than 15 studies on safety. |
| Allergens |
None. |
| Diet Restrictions |
None. |
| Health Knight Assessment |
Likely Harmful. | Category 4 Additive. |
| Products |
Alpha-Tocopherol (E307) can be found in processed foods such as margarine, soups, cheese, vegetable oils, vegetable fats, dressings, biscuits, flour, breakfast cereal, chips, sodas, chocolate and fruit bars, protein bars, rice cakes, croutons, cafes, croissants, creams, snacks for babies, pies, spreads, oat milks, sauces, and more. |
