Food additives Europe numbers E307
Functional Category
Antioxidant; therapeutic agent
Applications in Pharmaceutical Formulation
Alpha tocopherol is primarily recognized as a source of vitamin E, and the commercially available materials and specifications reflect this purpose. While alpha tocopherol also exhibits antioxidant properties, the beta, delta, and gamma tocopherols are considered to be more effective as antioxidants. Alpha-tocopherol is a highly lipophilic compound, and is an excellent solvent for many poorly soluble drugs.(1–4) Of widespread regulatory acceptability, tocopherols are of value in oil- or fat-based pharmaceutical products and are normally used in the concentration range 0.001–0.05% v/v. There is frequently an optimum concentration; thus the autoxidation of linoleic acid and methyl linolenate is reduced at low concentrations of alpha tocopherol, and is accelerated by higher concentrations. Antioxidant effectiveness can be increased by the addition of oil-soluble synergists such as lecithin and ascorbyl palmitate.(4) Alpha tocopherol may be used as an efficient plasticizer.(5) It has been used in the development of deformable liposomes as topical formulations.(6) d-Alpha-tocopherol has also been used as a non-ionic surfactant in oral and injectable formulations.(3)
Description
Alpha tocopherol is a natural product. The PhEur 6.0 describes alpha-tocopherol as a clear, colorless or yellowish-brown, viscous, oily liquid. See also Section
Stability and Storage Conditions
Tocopherols are oxidized slowly by atmospheric oxygen and rapidly by ferric and silver salts. Oxidation products include tocopheroxide, tocopherylquinone, and tocopherylhydroquinone, as well as dimers and trimers. Tocopherol esters are more stable to oxidation than the free tocopherols but are in consequence less effective antioxidants. See also Section 17. Tocopherols should be stored under an inert gas, in an airtight container in a cool, dry place and protected from light.
Incompatibilities
Tocopherols are incompatible with peroxides and metal ions, especially iron, copper, and silver. Tocopherols may be absorbed into plastic.(7)
Safety
Tocopherols (vitamin E) occur in many food substances that are consumed as part of the normal diet. The daily nutritional requirement has not been clearly defined but is estimated to be 3.0–20.0 mg. Absorption from the gastrointestinal tract is dependent upon normal pancreatic function and the presence of bile. Tocopherols are widely distributed throughout the body, with some ingested tocopherol metabolized in the liver; excretion of metabolites is via the urine or bile. Individuals with vitamin E deficiency are usually treated by oral administration of tocopherols, although intramuscular and intravenous administration may sometimes be used. Tocopherols are well tolerated, although excessive oral intake may cause headache, fatigue, weakness, digestive disturbance, and nausea. Prolonged and intensive skin contact may lead to erythema and contact dermatitis. The use of tocopherols as antioxidants in pharmaceuticals and food products is unlikely to pose any hazard to human health since the daily intake from such uses is small compared with the intake of naturally occurring tocopherols in the diet. The WHO has set an acceptable daily intake of tocopherol used as an antioxidant at 0.15–2.0 mg/kg body-weight.(10)