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Vitamin E in the maternal diet- 1st draft statement

Published 12 October 2026

© Crown copyright 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/20th-october-2026-committee-on-toxicity-meeting/vitamin-e-in-the-maternal-diet-1st-draft-statement

This is a paper for discussion. This does not represent the views of the Committee and should not be cited.

1. Introduction and Background

  1. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) last considered maternal diet and nutrition in relation to offspring health in its reports on ‘The influence of maternal, fetal and child nutrition on the development of chronic disease in later life’ (SACN, 2011) and on ‘Feeding in the first year of life’ (SACN, 2018). In the latter report, the impact of breastfeeding on maternal health was also considered.
  2. In 2019, SACN agreed to conduct a risk assessment on nutrition and maternal health focusing on maternal outcomes during pregnancy, childbirth and up to 24 months after delivery; this would include the effects of chemical contaminants and excess nutrients in the diet.
  3. SACN agreed that, where appropriate, other expert Committees would be consulted and asked to complete relevant risk assessments e.g. in the area of food safety advice. This subject was initially discussed during the horizon scanning item at the January 2020 meeting with a scoping paper being presented to the Committee in July 2020. This included background information on a provisional list of chemicals proposed by SACN. It was noted that the provisional list of chemicals was subject to change following discussion by COT who would be guiding the toxicological risk assessment process: candidate chemicals or chemical classes can be added or removed as the COT considered appropriate. The list was brought back to the COT with additional information in September 2020 (COT Contribution to SACN review of nutrition and maternal health: proposed scope of work and timetable). Following a discussion at the COT meeting in September 2020, it was agreed that papers on a number of components should be prioritised and to this end, papers on iodine, vitamin D and dietary supplements have been or will be presented to the Committee. The remaining list of compounds were to be triaged on the basis of toxicity and exposure. The current paper presents information intended to aid this process.
  4. A discussion paper on the effects of excess vitamin E on the maternal diet was prepared and presented to the COT in July 2026.
  5. The current paper summarises the conclusions of the Committee and addressed the areas where further information had been requested during the discussion of the item in July.

2. Questions for the Committee

The Committee are asked to consider the following questions.

a. Does the Committee have any comments on the structure or content of the draft Statement?

b. Does the Committee agree with the conclusions of the statement paper?

c. Does the Committee have any other comments?

COT Secretariat

October 2026

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