Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver a Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values (DRVs) for the European population, including vitamin E.
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin. Previously, the term vitamin E was used as the generic term for four tocopherols (α, β, γ, δ) and four tocotrienols (α, β, γ, δ), which are organic compounds that possess antioxidant activity to a different degree. Factors have been used to convert food contents of tocopherols and tocotrienols to α-tocopherol equivalents. In this Opinion, based on the available evidence and in line with other authoritative bodies, the Panel considers vitamin E as being α tocopherol only. Its naturally occurring form is RRR-α-tocopherol. Commercially available forms of α-tocopherol include RRR-α-tocopherol, a synthetic form that contains in equal proportions the eight stereoisomers of α-tocopherol (RRR-, RRS-, RSR-, RSS- and their enantiomers SSS-, SSR-, SRS-, SRR-) and is called all-rac-α-tocopherol, and their esterified forms.
