Tocopheryl acetate or Vitamin E Acetate or  Tocopheryl acetate is  the same product of Tocopherol acetate, but synthetic, industrially produced by a chemical process.

Tocopherol acetate ([(2R)-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-[(4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl]-3,4-dihydrochromen-6-yl] acetate) is a natural product, a modified, hydrolysed form of vitamin E, which is difficult to oxidise and has the same colour.

It comes in the form of a yellowish oil or as a white powder.

What it is used for and where

Medical

It is a powerful antioxidant, basically a vitamin E. (see Vitamin E), has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce local bacterial growth, thereby promoting wound healing.  Liposoluble, it helps protect membrane lipids from peroxidation when taken orally. 

Cosmetics

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.

Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.

It is used in cosmetic products for the skin, in toothpastes and has also been shown to reduce sunburn after exposure to UV rays. It also acts as a humectant when vitamin E is applied to the skin and neutralises free radicals(1).

Tocopherol acetate in topical gel form together with isotretinoin improved skin sensitivity and can be used as a non-irritating topical formulation for the treatment of acne (2).

In a preparation including some polysorbates, Tween 20, 40, 60, and 80, Tocopherol acetate has demonstrated in vitro antioxidant activity and efficacy in skin regeneration (3).

Safety

It has no safety contraindications. The EFSA Panel on Cosmetic Products concluded:

"On the basis of current knowledge, the SCCNFP is of the opinion that alpha-tocopherol acetate does not pose a threat to the health of the consumer and therefore does not propose any restrictions or conditions on the use of alpha-tocopherol acetate in cosmetic products" (4).

Respiratory Health Risks: The most notable concern with vitamin E acetate emerged from its association with EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping product use-Associated Lung Injury). The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) identified vitamin E acetate as a chemical of concern among people with EVALI, suggesting that when inhaled, it may interfere with normal lung functioning (5).

For more information:

Tocopherol acetate studies

Typical optimal commercial product characteristics Tocopherol acetate oil

• Molecular Formula    C₃₁H₅₂O₃
• Molecular Formula   472.754 g/mol
• UNII   A7E6112E4N
• CAS   58-95-7  12741-00-3  133-80-2  1407-18-7  54-22-8  1406-70-8  26243-95-8  7695-91-2  52225-20-4
• EC Number: 231-710-0  257-757-7  200-405-4
• DSSTox Substance ID  DTXSID3021356    DTXSID1031096
• IUPAC  [(2R)-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-[(4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl]-3,4-dihydrochromen-6-yl] acetate
• InChI=1S/C31H52O3/c1-21(2)13-10-14-22(3)15-11-16-23(4)17-12-19-31(9)20-18-28-26(7)29(33-27(8)32)24(5)25(6)30(28)34-31/h21-23H,10-20H2,1-9H3/t22-,23-,31-/m1/s1 
• InChl Key      ZAKOWWREFLAJOT-CEFNRUSXSA-N
• SMILES   CC1=C(C(=C(C2=C1OC(CC2)(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)C)C)OC(=O)C)C
• PubChem Substance ID 24900095    24899940
• MDL number MFCD00072052
• Beilstein Registry Number 97512
• eCl@ss    34058007
• ChEBI    32321
• NACRES  NA.79    NA.75
• RTECS   GP8280000

Synonyms: 

• Vitamin E acetate
• α-tocopherol acetate
• alpha-Tocopherol acetate
• Tocopheryl acetate
• Alfacol
• Natur-E granulate
• DL-alpha tocopheryl acetate
• (+-)-alpha-Tocopherol acetate
• Ecofrol
• 58-95-7
• Contopheron
• Tofaxin
• Econ
• Covitol 1360
• Vitamin Ealpha acetate
• alpha-Tocopheryl acetate
• DL-alpha-Tocopheryl acetate
• Vitamin E acetate, d-
• DL-alpha-Tocopherol acetate
• 2,5,7,8-Tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-6-cromanyl acetate, (+)-
• 6-Cromanol, 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-, acetate, (+)-
• 2H-1-Benzopyran-6-ol, 3,4-dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-, acetate, (2R-(2*(4R*,8R*)))-
• 2H-1-Benzopyran-6-ol, 3,4-dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-, acetate, [2R-[2R*(4R*,8R*)]]- 
• (R,R,R)-.alpha.-Tocopheryl acetate
• 2H-1-Benzopyran-6-ol, 3,4-dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-, acetate
• 3,4-Dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-benzopyran-6-yl acetate
• (2R)-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-[(4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl]-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-6-yl acetate
• 6-Chromanol, 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-, acetate, (+)-
• (2R)-3,4-Dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-[(4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl]-2H-1-benzopyran-6-ol 6-Acetate
• 6-Chromanol, 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-, acetate
• (2R*(4R*,8R*))-(1)-3,4-Dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-benzopyran-6-yl acetate
• DL-alpha-Tocopherol acetate, analytical standard
• DL-alpha-Tocopherol acetate, EP/USP/FCC grade
• [(2R)-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-[(4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl]chroman-6-yl] acetate
• 2H-1-Benzopyran-6-ol, 3,4-dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-((4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-, 6-acetate, (2R)-
• 3,4-Dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-b- enzopyran-6-ol, acetate
• [2R-[2R*(4R,8R*)]]-3,4-Dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-6-ol acetate
• [(2R)-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-[(4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl]-3,4-dihydrochromen-6-yl] acetate
• [2R*(4R*,8R*)]-()-3,4-dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-benzopyran-6-yl acetate
• 1406-70-8
• 2H-1-Benzopyran-6-ol, 3,4-dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-((4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-, acetate, (2R)-
• 2H-1-Benzopyran-6-ol, 3,4-dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-((4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-, acetate, (2R)-rel-
• Ephynal acetate
• Tokoferol acetate
• D-alpha-tocopherol acetate
• Tocopherex
• Evipherol
• Fertilvit
• Tocophrin
• Erevit
• Gevex
• Juvela
• Combinal E
• Tocopheryl acetate
• D-ALPHA-TOCOPHERYL ACETATE
• Epsilan-M
• E-Toplex
• E-Ferol
• Endo E Dompe
• Spondyvit
• (+)-alpha-Tocopherol acetate
• Copherol 1250
• Covitol 1100

References___________________________________________________

(1) Teo BS, Basri M, Zakaria MR, Salleh AB, Rahman RN, Rahman MB. A potential tocopherol acetate loaded palm oil esters-in-water nanoemulsions for nanocosmeceuticals. J Nanobiotechnology. 2010 Feb 23;8:4. doi: 10.1186/1477-3155-8-4.

(2) Gupta S, Wairkar S, Bhatt LK. Isotretinoin and α-tocopherol acetate-loaded solid lipid nanoparticle topical gel for the treatment of acne. J Microencapsul. 2020 Dec;37(8):557-565. doi: 10.1080/02652048.2020.1823499. 

(3) Caddeo C, Manca ML, Peris JE, Usach I, Diez-Sales O, Matos M, Fernàndez-Busquets X, Fadda AM, Manconi M. Tocopherol-loaded transfersomes: In vitro antioxidant activity and efficacy in skin regeneration. Int J Pharm. 2018 Nov 15;551(1-2):34-41. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.09.009.

(4) Opinion of the SCCNFP concerning the use of alpha tocopherol acetate in cosmetic products (europa.eu) 

(5) Blount BC, Karwowski MP, Shields PG, Morel-Espinosa M, Valentin-Blasini L, Gardner M, Braselton M, Brosius CR, Caron KT, Chambers D, Corstvet J, Cowan E, De Jesús VR, Espinosa P, Fernandez C, Holder C, Kuklenyik Z, Kusovschi JD, Newman C, Reis GB, Rees J, Reese C, Silva L, Seyler T, Song MA, Sosnoff C, Spitzer CR, Tevis D, Wang L, Watson C, Wewers MD, Xia B, Heitkemper DT, Ghinai I, Layden J, Briss P, King BA, Delaney LJ, Jones CM, Baldwin GT, Patel A, Meaney-Delman D, Rose D, Krishnasamy V, Barr JR, Thomas J, Pirkle JL; Lung Injury Response Laboratory Working Group. Vitamin E Acetate in Bronchoalveolar-Lavage Fluid Associated with EVALI. N Engl J Med. 2020 Feb 20;382(8):697-705. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1916433. Epub 2019 Dec 20. PMID: 31860793; PMCID: PMC7032996.

Abstract. Background: The causative agents for the current national outbreak of electronic-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) have not been established. Detection of toxicants in bronchoalveolar-lavage (BAL) fluid from patients with EVALI can provide direct information on exposure within the lung....Vitamin E acetate was associated with EVALI in a convenience sample of 51 patients in 16 states across the United States. (Funded by the National Cancer Institute and others.). Copyright © 2019 Massachusetts Medical Society.

Marrocco A, Singh D, Christiani DC, Demokritou P. E-cigarette vaping associated acute lung injury (EVALI): state of science and future research needs. Crit Rev Toxicol. 2022 Mar;52(3):188-220. doi: 10.1080/10408444.2022.2082918. 

Abstract. "E-Cigarette (e-cig) Vaping-Associated Acute Lung Injury" (EVALI) has been linked to vitamin-E-acetate (VEA) and Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), due to their presence in patients' e-cigs and biological samples. Lacking standardized methodologies for patients' data collection and comprehensive physicochemical/toxicological studies using real-world-vapor exposures, very little data are available, thus the underlying pathophysiological mechanism of EVALI is still unknown. This review aims to provide a comprehensive and critical appraisal of existing literature on clinical/epidemiological features and physicochemical-toxicological characterization of vaping emissions associated with EVALI. The literature review of 161 medical case reports revealed that the predominant demographic pattern was healthy white male, adolescent, or young adult, vaping illicit/informal THC-containing e-cigs. The main histopathologic pattern consisted of diffuse alveolar damage with bilateral ground-glass-opacities at chest radiograph/CT, and increased number of macrophages or neutrophils and foamy-macrophages in the bronchoalveolar lavage. The chemical analysis of THC/VEA e-cig vapors showed a chemical difference between THC/VEA and the single THC or VEA. The chemical characterization of vapors from counterfeit THC-based e-cigs or in-house-prepared e-liquids using either cannabidiol (CBD), VEA, or medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), identified many toxicants, such as carbonyls, volatile organic compounds, terpenes, silicon compounds, hydrocarbons, heavy metals, pesticides and various industrial/manufacturing/automotive-related chemicals. There is very scarce published toxicological data on emissions from THC/VEA e-liquids. However, CBD, MCT, and VEA emissions exert varying degrees of cytotoxicity, inflammation, and lung damage, depending on puffing topography and cell line. Major knowledge gaps were identified, including the need for more systematic-standardized epidemiological surveys, comprehensive physicochemical characterization of real-world e-cig emissions, and mechanistic studies linking emission properties to specific toxicological outcomes.