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La vitamina E y el vapeo. Lo que necesita saber. La versión en español está disponible aquí.
Vitmain E Pills and Dropper. Viscosity similar to vape juice.
What is Vitamin E Acetate?
Vitamin E (also known as tocopherol) is a naturally occurring vitamin, essential to a healthy human diet and commonly found in food and supplements. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant, which protects cell membranes and promotes a healthy nervous system.[1]
Vitamin E is available over the counter at most pharmacies. Most often, it is sold as Vitamin E Acetate, and in this form it can penetrate the skin. Topical application of Vitamin E Acetate may be beneficial for wound healing and protective against ultraviolet radiation, though there is no scientific consensus for this.[2][3]
Gloved hands holding vitamin e pills in the testing laboratory.
Why would Vitamin E Acetate be in a vapor product?
Vitamin E Acetate is commonly added to food ingredients as a preservative. The antioxidant properties of Vitamin E Acetate make it useful for reducing the oxidative degradation or “browning” of foods, especially oils. Cannabis oil distillates, in particular, are susceptible to oxidative degradation, causing the oil to change color from clear or light yellow to rose or deep red. Adding Vitamin E Acetate to a cannabis oil distillate may preserve its color.
Vitamin E Acetate blends (or “mixes”) more readily with cannabis oil than do more “traditional” vaping ingredients typically found in nicotine e-juice, such as propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine. Vitamin E Acetate may be used to thin a cannabis oil or thicken a terpene extract.
Is Vitamin E Acetate harmful?
The National Academy of Medicine recommends adults consume 15 mg of Vitamin E per day.[4] Regular consumption of Vitamin E at the recommended level has been associated with a decrease in risk for Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and a variety of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.[6][7]
Food. The US Food and Nutrition Board and the European Food Safety Authority both consider Vitamin E tolerable when consumed orally at amounts of less than 300 milligrams per day.[4][5] Consuming Vitamin E in higher amounts has been linked to excessive bleeding, drug interactions, and an increase in all-cause mortality.[2][8][9]
Skin. Topical application of Vitamin E is very common despite no scientific consensus of health benefits. In rare cases, topical application of Vitamin E has been associated with contact dermatitis, an allergy of the skin.[10]
Lungs. Vaporizing Vitamin E into the lungs is a relatively new behavior among Americans, and the risks associated with it are currently under intense scrutiny. In 2019, there has been a surge of vaping-related illnesses and deaths reported across the United States [11]. While the cause(s) of the illness(es) remains unknown, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are actively investigating, as are state agencies [12]. The FDA has announced they suspect Vitamin E Acetate may be the cause of vaping-related deaths. The CDC is urging Americans to only purchase vape products from trusted sources, and to consider cessation of vaping altogether.
How do I know which vapor products are free of Vitamin E Acetate?
When in doubt, don’t purchase or consume a product you don’t trust. Only purchase from licensed retail. Review products online to verify their authenticity. Ask you budtender for advice. Most vaping-related illnesses have been associated with illegal cannabis products [11]. Trust but verify, ask for proof that your product is free of contaminants.
Confidence Analytics offers Vitamin E Acetate testing of vapor products.
(206) 743-8843 | https://www.conflabs.com
Which brands can I trust?
The Tested With Confidence Logo
The voluntary “TESTED WITH CONFIDENCE” program is a listing of brands committed to transparent and holistic product manufacturing practices, going above and beyond state requirements for quality assurance. The current protocol under the TESTED WITH CONFIDENCE program has included terpene and pesticide testing of all finished products, to ensure purity. In keeping with this philosophy, the program is currently developing a strategy to screen products for Vitamin E Acetate. Look for the logo when identifying trustworthy brands.
TESTED WITH CONFIDENCE affiliation is not a guarantee or endorsement that a product is free from Vitamin E Acetate. Nor has it been confirmed that Vitamin E Acetate is the culprit in these vaping-related illnesses and deaths. TESTED WITH CONFIDENCE is a brand pledge from cultivators and manufacturers in their commitment to quality assurance.
I think I may have an illness related to vaping, what should I do?
Doctors say anyone vaping who develops respiratory distress, including coughing, difficulty breathing and chest pain, should consult a clinician immediately.
Read More:
Heylo Extracts Blog – How To Protect Yourself with Cannabis Vapes.
Leafly Health – Vape Pen Lung Disease Has Insiders Eyeing Misuse of New Additives.
ABC News – New York issuing subpoenas to 3 companies amid vaping crisis.
Images courtesy of @that_vazquez_again and @torihydrocannabinol
5 Comments on “Vitamin E and Vaping. What you need to know.”
Kudos! As a long term smoker who lived through many decades of hepC and drinking I think marijuana use MAY have saved my liver but without testing who knows, right?
Testing is needed! Legalization has helped legalize testing, correct?
BUT I DO NOT WANT BIGPHARMA TAKING OVER MARIJUANA !!!
$$$$$$$$$ does not equate to health as you know, and I appreciate your independent testing labs.
An educated public is the only answer. Too bad, eh? Good luck, I mean!
Thanks, Paul. We’re doing our due diligence to try and ensure quality of consumer cannabis products. Really appreciate your support.
Why bother using vit e when it’s so much more expensive than other agents though (ie; vg/pg)? Cost still wouldn’t be worth it. Just curious.
Viscosity. When you cut THC with PG or VG, it gets thinner, and the end-user can tell it’s cut just by turning it on its side and seeing how fast it flows. Vit-e has a consistency similar to activated THC, so it’s still thick even after the cut… makes it harder to tell that it’s cut.
I said it before and I will say it again, medical marijiuana is too expensive. You need money yearly for doctor and card. Plus trying to buy your medical marijiuana is too much, plus they always run out. The problem is the state wanting their cut from everyone. Meaning the buyers, the growers, the suppliers, etc. Greed takes over all that is good and distroyes it. I know, because I used to buy medical marijiuana but can’t afford it.