An investigation into the use of vitamin E as a supplement in animal feed, has found that there is no concern for consumers when it is used at practical levels.

 

The study was launched following a request from European Commission to the European Food Safety Authority to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of vitamin E as a feed additive for all animal species.

 

Vitamin E is a well-established micro-nutrient for all animal species. Vitamin E-based additives are globally used in animal nutrition, and have been for decades, to prevent vitamin E deficiency.

 

The Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) examined data from three active substances (all-rac-a-tocopheryl acetate, RRR-a-tocopheryl acetate and RRR-a-tocopherol) currently authorised as vitamin E. The biopotency of these forms is different: one International Unit (IU) of vitamin E is defined as 1 mg all-rac-a-tocopheryl acetate, as 0.74 mg of RRR-a-tocopheryl acetate and as 0.67 mg of RRR-a-tocopherol.

 

The additives described containing those forms of vitamin E do not present major stability or homogeneity issues. However, sensitivity to light and moisture, as well as to oxygen and heat, RRR-preparations must be appropriately managed in order to maintain the amount of vitamin E nominally available to farm animals.

 

Vitamin E at the current use levels is safe for all animal species. Information on hypervitaminosis E is not sufficiently consistent to derive a maximum content for vitamin E in feeding stuffs, based on safety for target species.

 

A conservative consumer exposure assessment indicates that the UL (300 mg a-tocopherol equivalents/day) is not exceeded even assuming high background intake and levels in animal feeds far higher than practical use. The FEEDAP Panel concludes that the use of vitamin E at practical use levels is safe for the consumer.

 

No concern for user safety is expected from the use of the active substances vitamin E in feed additives. However, to draw conclusions on the final formulated additives, specific studies would be required.