Vitamin E is a group of eight fat-soluble compounds that include four tocopherols and four tocotrienols. Alpha-tocopherol is the most commonly available and widely known member of the Vitamin E family.

Tocopherol consists of α-tocopherol, β-tocopherol, δ-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol and is a lipophilic molecule, synthesized by photosynthetic organisms via enzymes.

The name describes the structure of the molecule:

• "Vitamin" refers to a group of organic compounds that are essential for normal growth and nutrition and are required in small quantities in the diet because they cannot be synthesized by the body.
• "E"  is the specific designation for a group of eight fat-soluble compounds that include four tocopherols and four tocotrienols.

Vitamin E can be synthesized in the laboratory but is usually extracted from natural sources. The synthesis of Vitamin E is a complex process that involves multiple steps and reactions. Here's a simplified version of the process:

• Isophytol, a derivative of mevalonic acid, is used as the starting material.
• Isophytol is converted into 2,3-dimethyl-5-phytyl-1,4-benzoquinone through a series of reactions.
• This compound is then converted into alpha-tocopherol, the most common form of Vitamin E, through a series of reactions involving reduction and methylation.

Industrially it occurs as a fine, white powder or transparent yellow liquid.

The term α-tocopherol does not refer to a single substance, but to eight different isomers that perform the same function. Vitamin E is the most important fat-soluble antioxidant.

Vitamin E occurs naturally in cereals, in oils and, in particular in:

• olive oil
• wheat germ oil
• palm oil
• soybean oil
• corn oil
• sunflower oil
• eggs
• butter
• peanuts
• almonds and other dried fruit

What it is used for and where

Medical

Tocopherol can increase the antioxidant effect of cells producing an anti-ageing effect by improving lipid metabolism, it is a key antioxidant and can be created by synthesis.

Its antioxidant action has effects on the brain (1), when, in the cardiovascular system, there are problems of diabetes caused by LDL cholesterol (2) and in liver diseases (3)

In the medical field it is an adjuvant to treat vascular diseases, as prevention for cellular diseases and for a correct functioning of the immune system.

No positive action, however, was found towards prostate cancer, as demonstrated by this study of very long duration on many samples (4).

Vitamin E is an essential nutrient that plays a key role in maintaining eye health. It's a powerful antioxidant that protects eye cells from damage caused by free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can damage cells and contribute to the aging process and diseases.

Studies have suggested that Vitamin E, along with other nutrients like Vitamin C, beta-carotene, and zinc, can slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the leading causes of vision loss in older adults. Additionally, Vitamin E may help prevent the formation of cataracts, another common condition that can affect vision with aging.

It's important to note that Vitamin E should be taken as part of a balanced and varied diet, as an excess of Vitamin E from supplements can have side effects. Foods rich in Vitamin E include nuts, seeds, leafy green vegetables, and olive oil.

Cosmetics

In recent years, tocopherol has often been used in cosmetic products such as detergents, shampoos and creams for its antioxidant, nutrient properties and as a skin conditioning agent.

Let us look in detail at its cosmetic properties.

• Antioxidant agent. Ingredient that counteracts oxidative stress and prevents cell damage. Free radicals, pathological inflammatory processes, reactive nitrogen species and reactive oxygen species are responsible for the ageing process and many diseases caused by oxidation.
• Fragrance. It plays a very important role in the formulation of cosmetic products as it allows perfume to be enhanced, masked or added to the final product, improving its commercial viability.  The consumer always expects to find a pleasant scent in a cosmetic product.
• Skin conditioning agent - Miscellaneous.  This ingredient has the task of modifying the condition of the skin when it is damaged or dry by reducing its flakiness and restoring its elasticity.
• Skin conditioning agent - Occlusive. This ingredient has the task of modifying the condition of the skin when it is damaged or dry by reducing flaking and restoring elasticity. It has a strong lipophilic character and is identified as an occlusive ingredient; it is generally composed of oily and fatty materials that remain on the skin surface and reduce trans epidermal water loss.

For more information:

"Vitamin E Tocopherol studies"

Optimal typical characteristics of the commercial product Tocopherol powder

• Molecular Formula: C₂₉H₅₀O₂
• Molecular Weight: 430.717 g/mol
• Exact Mass  430.381073
• CAS: 59-02-9  1406-18-4  2074-53-5  10191-41-0
• EC Number: 218-197-9    233-466-0  200-412-2  215-798-8    606-803-8
• UNII: N9PR3490H9
• DSSTox Substance ID: 
• MDL number  
• PubChem Substance ID 
• InChI=1S/C29H50O2/c1-20(2)12-9-13-21(3)14-10-15-22(4)16-11-18-29(8)19-17-26-25(7)27(30)23(5)24(6)28(26)31-29/h20-22,30H,9-19H2,1-8H3/t21-,22-,29-/m1/s1 
• InChl Key      GVJHHUAWPYXKBD-IEOSBIPESA-N
• SMILES    CC1=C(C2=C(CCC(O2)(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)C)C(=C1O)C)C
• IUPAC   (2R)-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-[(4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl]-3,4-dihydrochromen-6-ol
• ChEBI 
• PubChem Substance ID 329751332
• MDL number MFCD00006848
• Beilstein Registry Number 94012

Synonyms:

• alpha-Tocopherol
• a-Tocopherol
• D-alpha-Tocopherol
• (2R,4'R,8'R)-alpha-Tocopherol
• 59-02-9
• dl-a-Tocopherol
• 5,7,8-Trimethyltocol
• (+)-alpha-Tocopherol
• (R,R,R)-alpha-Tocopherol
• DL-ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL
• Vitamin Ea
• Mixed tocopherols
• D-alpha tocopherol
• Syntopherol
• Denamone
• Viteolin
• Esorb
• Tocopherol (R,S)
• 2,5,7,8-Tetramethyl-2-(4',8',12'-trimethyltridecyl)-6-chromanol
• Aquasol E
• 10191-41-0
• (+)-|A-Tocopherol
• Tocopherol alpha
• a-Vitamin E
• (2R)-2,5,7,8-TETRAMETHYL-2-[(4R,8R)-4,8,12-TRIMETHYLTRIDECYL]CHROMAN-6-OL
• 2074-53-5
• Profecundin
• Waynecomycin
• Vitamin E alpha
• Vitaplex E
• N9PR3490H9
• Vita E
• EINECS 215-798-8
• Lan-E
• Med-E
• (R)-2,5,7,8-Tetramethyl-2-((4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)chroman-6-ol
• Antisterility vitamin
• alpha-Tocopherol acid
• Tenox GT 1
• Endo E
• Eprolin S
• Viterra E
• CHEBI:18145
• E Prolin
• Spavit E
• 2H-1-Benzopyran-6-ol, 3,4-dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-[(4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl]-, (2R)-
• Almefrol
• Emipherol
• Epsilan
• Etamican
• Tokopharm
• Vascuals
• Viprimol
• Vitayonon
• Etavit
• Ilitia
• Verrol
• Evion
• alpha-Tokoferol
• (2R)-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-[(4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl]-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-6-ol
• 3,4-Dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-benzopyran-6-ol
• BPBio1_000362
• alpha-Vitamin E