α-tocopheryl succinate 1210IU/g (α-TOS, vitamin E succinate)
α‑Tocopheryl succinate 1210IU (α‑TOS, vitamin E succinate) – a vitamin E ester supplied as a white crystalline powder, used in supplements and researched as a mitochondrial‑targeted antioxidant; typical supplemental use ~200–400 mg/day.
α-tocopheryl succinate 1210IU (α-TOS, vitamin E succinate) assay 96.0–102.0% is a d‑α‑tocopheryl ester of succinic acid – a vitamin E derivative used in nutraceuticals and extensively studied as a mitochondrial‑targeted antioxidant in preclinical oncology models. It is a white or almost white crystalline powder, practically insoluble in water, soluble in acetone and ethanol, and very soluble in methylene chloride; suitable for use as a vitamin E source in dietary supplement formulations.
| Benefit |
Typical study dose* |
Key human findings |
High-quality sources |
| Vitamin E support & antioxidant status |
~200–400 mg/day vitamin E succinate (or equivalent) for weeks–months |
Human experience comes mainly from vitamin E ester supplements (e.g., succinate/TPGS) and mixed vitamin E preparations, showing maintenance of serum vitamin E and antioxidant markers; outcome benefits are not established. |
PubMed |
| Adjunct anti‑cancer research (preclinical) |
Cell models: 10–50 µM; animal models: mg/kg dosing (not directly translatable to supplements) |
α‑Tocopheryl succinate selectively triggers apoptosis in many tumour cell lines while sparing normal cells in vitro and shows tumour‑growth inhibition in several rodent models; there are no approved cancer indications and human outcome data are very limited. |
PMC |
| Drug‑delivery & bioavailability (TPGS analog) |
Typically 100–300 mg/day TPGS in oral products, or lower amounts as an excipient |
A water‑soluble PEGylated derivative (TPGS) of vitamin E succinate is widely used as a pharmaceutical excipient to improve solubility and absorption of poorly soluble drugs; experience supports good tolerability within usual supplemental ranges. |
PubMed |
*Doses shown are typical in studies or commercial supplement practice; products and formulations differ. α‑TOS is not an approved medicine and should not be presented as a stand‑alone cancer therapy.
Mechanistic highlights
- Mitocan action: α‑Tocopheryl succinate accumulates in mitochondria of malignant cells and can inhibit complex II (succinate dehydrogenase), increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and triggering mitochondrial apoptosis pathways more strongly in tumour cells than in non‑transformed cells.
- Modulation of death signalling: Promotes pro‑apoptotic signalling (e.g., Fas/FasL and sphingomyelin–ceramide pathways), mitochondrial outer‑membrane permeabilisation, and caspase activation in preclinical models.
- Differences vs. α‑tocopherol: Many anti‑tumour effects of α‑TOS are not reproduced by non‑esterified vitamin E, suggesting roles beyond classical antioxidant activity (membrane insertion, signalling, and mitochondrial targeting).
Safety & practical use
- Usual supplemental range: Formulations typically use ~200–400 mg/day of vitamin E succinate (alone or in blends) – broadly aligned with conventional upper limits for total vitamin E, but an evidence‑based, disease‑treatment dose of α‑TOS has not been defined.
- Upper‑dose considerations: Meta‑analyses of high‑dose vitamin E (especially ≥400 IU/day of α‑tocopherol) report signals for increased bleeding and possible all‑cause mortality in some populations; follow local guidelines for total daily vitamin E intake and avoid self‑escalating doses.
- Drug interactions: Use caution with anticoagulants/antiplatelet drugs (e.g., warfarin, DOACs, aspirin) and in patients with vitamin K deficiency or bleeding disorders due to potential haemorrhagic risk.
- Medical oversight: Not recommended in pregnancy or breastfeeding due to limited data; people with active cancer (especially those on chemotherapy or radiotherapy), liver disease, or clotting disorders should only use under medical supervision.
- Therapeutic uncertainty: There is no standardized, evidence‑based α‑TOS regimen for cancer or immune therapy in humans; most anti‑cancer data are in vitro or in animals, so high‑dose self‑medication is discouraged.
- Practical takeaway: Established human benefit is clearest for related TPGS preparations used under medical guidance to correct vitamin E deficiency in fat‑malabsorption, whereas over‑the‑counter vitamin E succinate products should not be assumed to treat or prevent cancer or to be risk‑free at high doses.
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