Vitamin E discussion forum position paper on the revision of the nomenclature of vitamin E

This position paper opens a discussion forum of this Journal dedicated to a scientific debate on Vitamin E nomenclature. With this article we provide the scientific and medical communities with what we consider relevant information in favor of revising the nomenclature of vitamin E. To our knowledge, only RRR-alpha-tocopherol has been medically used to protect against a deficiency disease in humans, and therefore, it would be appropriate to restrict the term vitamin to this molecule. The direct demonstration of a vitamin function to other tocochromanols (including other tocopherols, tocotrienols and eventually tocomonoenols), has not yet been scientifically shown. In fact, the medical prescription of a molecule against the deficiency disease only because it has been included in the Vitamin E family, but not tested as vitamin E, could lead to ineffective therapy and potentially dangerous consequences for patients. The idea of this revision launched during the recent 3rd Satellite Symposium on Vitamin E of the 2022 SFRREurope meeting, offers a open platform of discussion for the scientists involved in vitamin E research and scientific societies interested to this subject.

Automated summary

This article proposes revising the nomenclature of vitamin E and argues that only RRR-alpha-tocopherol should be considered as vitamin E. Other tocochromanols have not been scientifically proven to function as vitamins. Prescribing molecules as vitamin E without proper testing could result in ineffective therapy and potential risks for patients.