| Essence |
Gamma-Tocopherol or E308 is one of four different vitamin E forms that can be made synthetically (dl- form) and are commonly used as additives. |
| Names |
Vitamin E, Dl-Gamma-Tocopherol, γ-Tocopherol, Synthetic Vitamin E, INS 308, Synthetic Vitamin E Concentrate, E308, Gamma-Tocopherol, and others. |
| Sourcing |
Commercially, vegetable oils are a common source when it comes to this additive. |
| Manufacturing |
It’s basically created exactly like the Tocopherol-Rich Extract (E306). There is one extra step afterward in which the additive can be isolated through chromatographic separation. Creating it through chemical synthesis is also likely possible. |
| Application |
Antioxidant (synthetic, fat-soluble) and preservative. |
| Acceptable Daily Intake |
Supposedly, it’s said to not be harmful in amounts of up to 2 milligrams on every kilogram of body weight. |
| Side Effects |
Synthetic Alpha-Tocopherol (!) is known to be harmful despite having vitamin E activity. By analogy, it’s likely that all other synthetic vitamin E forms are also harmful and should be avoided. Much like its alpha brother, it could contribute to cancer. |
| Benefits |
In theory, this could be helpful due to its vitamin E activity. But, in reality, that is unlikely due to its synthetic nature. |
| Studies |
2,030+ studies on Pubmed. Less than 50 studies on safety. |
| Allergens |
None. |
| Diet Restrictions |
None. |
| Health Knight Assessment |
Potentially Harmful. | Category 3 Additive. |
| Products |
Gamma-Tocopherol (E308) can be found in some processed foods. These include pastries, soft drinks, muesli, salami, bread, and others. |
