Alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E)

Alpha-tocopherol is the most biologically active form of vitamin E, a fat-soluble nutrient essential to human health. As a food additive (E307), it functions as an antioxidant, protecting oils, fats, and fat-containing foods from oxidative rancidity. It is used in vegetable oils, infant formula, nut products, margarine, and processed meats to extend shelf life and preserve flavour. It is derived from natural plant sources or produced synthetically, often listed alongside the parent entry E306.

JECFA evaluated tocopherols including alpha-tocopherol in 1981 and did not establish a numerical ADI, as this compound is a normal and essential dietary component with a well-characterised metabolic pathway. The body tightly regulates absorption and storage through established mechanisms.

Alpha-tocopherol (E307) is approved globally, including in the EU, the United States (GRAS), Japan, and Korea. Unlike many other food antioxidants, it provides genuine nutritional benefit alongside its technical function. Consumers often see it in products marketed as free from synthetic antioxidants, as it is widely considered a natural alternative to BHA (E320) or BHT (E321). There are no known adverse effects at dietary levels of exposure.