Food additive E308, the full name of which is synthetic gamma-tocopherol, is found in food as a food antioxidant. Its necessity for food is expressed in the fact that this substance can significantly extend the shelf life, help prevent changes in the physical characteristics of food, such as color and smell.
Basically, gamma-tocopherol is obtained by processing vegetable raw materials – soybean oil, wheat germ and cotton seeds. But the substance can also be isolated during the breakdown of genetically modified products.
physical properties
Antioxidant gamma-tocopherol synthetic in its physical and chemical characteristics is a viscous brown or yellow oil. At the same time, despite the similar form of natural tocopherol, these two substances are completely different in their properties and applications. Synthetic gamma-tocopherol can behave and manifest differently, depending on the volume of products in which it is contained and the temperature regime. For example, the pro-oxidative action of tocopherol can cause a significant increase in food storage temperature. In this case, the food has a specific, unacceptable taste for food.
It is possible to use the synthetic antioxidant E308 in many countries, for example, in all countries of the European Union, Ukraine, Russia. Here it is allowed to add it to vegetable oils, animal fats suitable for human consumption. E308 is used both independently and in combination with other tocopherols.
Areas of use
In addition to the manufacture of fats for food purposes, such an antioxidant of synthetic origin is used to prevent oxidative processes of fat in the production of meat products, as a stabilizer of milk mixtures, and also as an emulsifier.
In addition, this substance is used as part of vitamin complexes based on ascorbic acid and as a solvent in carotene dyes.
It should be noted that the food antioxidant gamma-tocopherol will not necessarily be listed in the list of constituent components of a particular product. It cannot also be called vitamin E or natural (natural) tocopherol in the production of food products.
In pharmacological preparations, the action of which is aimed at eliminating cosmetic problems of the skin and improving the condition of the skin, the synthetic antioxidant E308 helps to significantly improve the overall structure of the skin, rejuvenate it and make it radiant and healthy.
Useful qualities
Despite the fact that gamma-tocopherol has a synthetic nature of its origin, the harm to the human body from a substance in any amount is zero. The benefit of such tocopherol is that it helps to provide the regeneration necessary for cells, supplying internal organs that lack oxygen with this substance. Synthetic vitamin E prevents the oxidation of the resulting vitamin A in the body and helps the substance to be better absorbed.
Among other things, gamma-tocopherol has a scientifically proven effectiveness for people suffering from oncological tumors and all kinds of inflammatory processes.
Normally, a person should consume this substance in an amount of 2 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day. In this amount, the antioxidant must be consumed in the composition of those foods in which it is included. This food supplement is completely safe for humans and hypoallergenic.