Determination of Vitamin E in Foods and Feeds—A Collaborative Study

Abstract

Abstract A collaborative study was conducted to evaluate a method for the determination of vitamin E in foods and feeds. Both the naturally occurring and the supplemental vitamin E are extracted from the sample by the appropriate procedure, the lipid residue is saponified, and α-tocopherol is isolated by TLC and determined colorimetrically. To determine supplemental a-tocopheryl acetate specifically, the sample is extracted by the appropriate procedure, reducing substances including natural atocopherol are removed by oxidative chromatography, the a-tocopheryl acetate is saponified, and the resulting a-tocopherol is determined colorimetrically. These assays for vitamin E in foods and feeds are neither rapid nor easy and considerable skill is required to obtain reliable results. Data reported by 7 collaborators on 7 samples indicate that the standard deviation among laboratories is not significant for the determination of total α-tocopherol but is significant for the determination of supplemental a-tocopheryl acetate. The weighted mean coefficients of variation were 11.0% for the determination of total a-tocopherol and 7.0% for the determination of supplemental a-tocopheryl acetate. Since an official procedure for the determination of vitamin E in foods and feeds is needed and since most laboratories were successful in carrying out the procedure, the Associate Referee recommends that the method as modified be adopted as official first action.