Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of vitamin E as a feed additive for all animal species

Assessment of a feed additive consisting of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) for all animal species for the renewal of its authorisation (Jilin Beisha Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd)

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the assessment of the application for renewal of authorisation of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) as a feed additive for all animal species. The applicant provided data demonstrating that the additive currently in the market complies with the conditions of authorisation. The FEEDAP Panel confirms that the use of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate under the current authorised conditions of use is safe for the target species, the consumers and the environment. No concern for user safety is expected from the use of the active substance; however, due to the lack of information, the FEEDAP Panel is not able to conclude on its skin sensitisation potential. To draw conclusions on the safety for the user of the final formulated additives, specific studies would be required. There is no need to assess the efficacy of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate in the context of the renewal of the authorisation.

Assessment of a feed additive consisting of all-rac-alpha tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) for all animal species for the renewal of its authorisation (EUROPE-ASIA Import Export GmbH)

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the assessment of the application for renewal of authorisation of all-rac-alpha tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) as a feed additive for all animal species. The applicant provided data demonstrating that the additive currently in the market complies with the conditions of authorisation. The FEEDAP Panel confirms that the use of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate under the current authorised conditions of use is safe for the target species, the consumers and the environment. No concern for user safety is expected from the use of the active substance; however, due to the lack of information, the FEEDAP Panel is not able to conclude on its skin sensitisation potential. To draw conclusions on the safety for the user of the final formulated additives, specific studies would be required. There is no need to assess the efficacy of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate in the context of the renewal of the authorisation.

Assessment of a feed additive consisting of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) for all animal species for the renewal of its authorisation (NHU Europe GmbH)

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the assessment of the application for renewal of authorisation of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) as a feed additive for all animal species. The applicant provided data demonstrating that the additive currently in the market complies with the conditions of authorisation. The FEEDAP Panel confirms that the use of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate under the current authorised conditions of use is safe for the target species, the consumers and the environment. No concern for user safety is expected from the use of the active substance, however, due to the lack of information, the FEEDAP Panel is not able to conclude on its skin sensitisation potential. To draw conclusions on the safety for the user of the final formulated additives, specific studies would be required. There is no need to assess the efficacy of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate in the context of the renewal of the authorisation.

Assessment of a feed additive consisting of RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) for all animal species for the renewal of its authorisation (Specialty Ingredients (Europe) B.V. and Vitae Caps S.A.)

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the assessment of the application for renewal of authorisation of RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) as a feed additive for all animal species. The applicant provided data demonstrating that the additive currently in the market complies with the conditions of authorisation. The FEEDAP Panel confirms that the use of RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate under the current authorised conditions of use is safe for the target species, the consumers and the environment. No concern for user safety is expected from the use of the active substance; however, due to the lack of information, the FEEDAP Panel is not able to conclude on its skin sensitisation potential. To draw conclusions on the safety for the user of the final formulated additives, specific studies would be required. There is no need to assess the efficacy of RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate in the context of the renewal of the authorisation.

Assessment of a feed additive consisting of all-rac-alpha tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) for all animal species for the renewal of its authorisation (BASF SE)

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the assessment of the application for renewal of authorisation of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) as a feed additive for all animal species. The applicant provided data demonstrating that the additive currently in the market complies with the conditions of authorisation. The FEEDAP Panel confirms that the use of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate under the current authorised conditions of use is safe for the target species, the consumers and the environment. No concern for user safety is expected from the use of the active substance however, due to the lack of information, the FEEDAP Panel is not able to conclude on its skin sensitisation potential. To draw conclusions on the safety for the user of the final formulated additives, specific studies would be required. There is no need to assess the efficacy of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate in the context of the renewal of the authorisation.

Metabolism and biological activity of α-tocopherol derived from vitamin E-enriched transgenic maize in broilers

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the metabolism of α-tocopherol derived from vitamin E-enriched transgenic maize (VER) and its effects on antioxidant and immune functions in broilers aged 1-42 days. A total of 360 1-day-old male broilers were randomly divided into three groups containing six replicates with 20 broilers per replicate. The negative control (NC) group and the positive control (PC) group were given non-GM maize and non-GM maize plus exogenous vitamin E (VE), respectively, and the VER group was given VER, replacing the non-GM maize given to the NC group. Between days 1 and 21 and days 22 and 42, VE levels were 4.38 and 4.63 mg kg^-1 in the NC group, and 14.11 and 14.91 mg kg^-1 in the PC and VER group, respectively.

RESULTS

The results showed that α-tocopherol from both VER and additives increased α-tocopherol transfer protein and cytochrome P450 concentrations. Serum α-tocopherol and α-tocopherylquinone levels of broilers in the PC and VER groups were also significantly higher than those in the NC group (P < 0.05). Compared with the NC group, broilers in both groups that received α-tocopherol had reduced NF-κB p65 concentrations, significantly decreased serum prostaglandin E₂ , interleukin-6, malondialdehyde, and hydrogen peroxide levels (P < 0.05), and significantly increased glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant capacity (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In summary, both VER and non-GM maize fortified with exogenous VE showed similar effects on broilers, indicating that the α-tocopherol in VER has sufficient biological activity. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Comparison of a grain-based diet supplemented with synthetic vitamin E versus a lucerne (alfalfa) hay-based diet fed to lambs in terms of carcass traits, muscle vitamin E, fatty acid content, lipid oxidation, and retail colour of meat

Dietary supplementation of vitamin E (VitE) in a synthetic or natural form was examined. Forty-eight lambs were assigned (n = 16) to either a grain-based diet at moderate (MOD, 42 mg∙kg^-1 VitE as all-rac α-tocopheryl acetate) or supranutritional (SUP, 285 mg∙kg^-1 of vitE) levels of synthetic VitE or a lucerne hay-based diet (LUC; 37 mg∙kg^-1 VitE) for 8 weeks. Meat from the LUC group had lower muscle n-6 and PUFA levels compared to meat from the MOD and SUP groups. Despite a similar VitE intake, muscle VitE was higher for LUC compared to MOD, while SUP lambs showed the highest VitE. Lipid oxidation did not differ between groups. For fresh meat, redness tended to be higher in LUC fed lambs than the other two groups, but brownness formation was only lower than the SUP group. For aged meat colour stability, redness tended to be higher in lambs fed SUP and LUC, whereas highest browning occurred in the MOD group.