Synthetic vitamin E, or synthetic tocopherol (dl-alpha-tocopherol or any variation starting with dl-) is found in most supplemental vitamin e sources fed to horses. Synthetic vitamin E, due to its chemical structure, is only about 12% as potent as natural vitamin E. It is also not as bioavailable (meaning easily used by the body) as its natural counterpart, decreasing overall absorption and utilization of the vitamin. Some studies have shown that three times more synthetic vitamin E is needed to equal the biological activity of natural vitamin E. Synthetic vitamin E is also excreted faster than the natural form, so it doesn't have as much time to get into the tissues where it is needed.

Synthetic vitamin E

Synthetic vitamin E is formed by the condensation of trimethylhydroquinone (TMHQ, also known as the main ring) and isophytol through a chemical reaction. It is an equal mixture of eight stereoisomers, and its biological activity is only 21-90% of natural vitamin E.

Product Specifications

Grade	Pharma and food-grade
Function	Healthy care
Purity	50%-98%
Appearance	Clear, colorless, slightly greenish-yellow, viscous oily liquid

Specification

Description	Clear, Colourless slightly greenish-yellow oily liquid	Conform
Identification
Optical rotation	-0.01°~+0.01°, Ph.Eur.	0.00°
IR	Ph.Eur./USP/FCC	Conform
Color reactio	USP/FCC	Conform
Related substances
Impurity A	≤0.5%	<0.1%
Impurity B	≤1.5%	0.56%
Impurity C	≤0.5%	<0.1%
Impurity D and E	≤1.0%	<0.1%
Any other impurity	≤0.25%	0.11%
Totoal impurity	≤2.5%	0.67%
Acidity	≤1.0ml	0.06ml
Residual solvents	To conform(In- house)	Conform
Heavy metals
Pb	≤2mg/kg	<0.05mg/kg
Arsenic	≤1mg/kg(In-house)	<1mg/kg
Copper	≤25mg/kg	<2mg/kg
Zine	≤25mg/kg	<2mg/kg
Palladium	≤5ppm	<1ppm
Assay	96.0%-102.0%	99.3%
Microbial limit
TAMC	≤1000cfu/g	Certified
TYMC	≤100cfu/g	Certified
Conclusion: Conforms to Ph. Eur./USP/FCC

Natural Vitamin E Vs. Synthetic Vitamin E

	Natural	Synthetic
Structure	Single stereoisomer	A mixture of eight stereoisomers in equal amounts
Sources	Extracted from vegetable oil	chemical reaction synthesis
Biological activity	high biological activity	low biological activity
Prices	high price	low price

There is a big difference between natural and synthetic tocopherol, especially when it is absorbed by the digestive tract. Natural vitamin E can be retained in human tissues for a longer period of time.

Only alpha-tocopherol is available in both natural and synthetic forms, the other three tocopherols, beta-, gamma- and delta-only have natural forms and no synthetic forms. Therefore, when comparing the differences between natural and synthetic vitamins, it is meaningful to compare only alpha-tocopherol, and the other three tocopherols are not comparable.

Application

Pharmaceuticals:
1) Improving drug bioavailability
2) Emulsion vehicle
3) Functional ingredient in self-emulsifying formulations
4) Reducing drug sensitivity on skin or tissues
Food and beverages:
1) Liquid vitamin E or liquid multivitamin/mineral supplements
2) Other forms of vitamin E or multivitamin/mineral dietary supplements such as tablets, softgels, bars and others.
Personal Care and Cosmetics:
1) Creams, lotions and other products for topical application of vitamin E and other formulated actives.
2) Eye drops, nasal sprays, syrups and others primarily in formulating active compounds.

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Storage&Package

Synthetic vitamin E may be stored for 24 months at room temperature in the unopened original container. It shall be stored at room temperature, under dry conditions, protected from heat, light, moisture and oxygen, and in tightly closed containers.

Packaged in 25kg two layers of sterile bags which is packed in one paper carton (Food grade).