Citric Acid

The Basics On Citric Acid

What is Citric Acid?

Extract derived from citrus and used primarily to adjust the pH of products.

What are other names for Citric Acid?

1,2,3-PROPANETRICARBOXYLIC ACID, 2-HYDROXY-, 1,2,3PROPANETRICARBOXYLIC ACID, 2HYDROXY, 2-HYDROXY- 1,2,3-PROPANETRICARBOXYLIC ACID, 2-HYDROXY-1,2,3-PROPANETRICARBOXYLIC ACID, ANHYDROUS CITRIC ACID, CITRIC ACID, CITRIC ACID, ANHYDROUS, and MONOHYDRATE CITRIC ACID

What is Citric Acid used for?

Citric Acid is derived from citrus fruits and is used in small amounts to adjust the pH of products to prevent them from being too alkaline. Citric acid is an Alpha-Hydroxy Acid, and in the right formula and concentration, it can be used as an exfoliator for the skin. Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (also known as AHAs), often referred to as fruit acids, are a common ingredient found in many cosmeceutical products. In chemical terms, AHAs are carboxylic acids with one hydroxyl group attached to the α-position of the carboxyl group1.

How Citric Acid is classified

Uncategorized

Recommendations for using Citric Acid during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Limited data suggests no known risk

 

Citric Acid During Pregnancy

What we know about using Citric Acid while pregnant or breastfeeding

Limited information available.

Pregnant female Sprague-Dawley rats (22/group) were exposed to 0, 400, 800, or 1600 mg/kg per d t*butyl acetate via gavage on gestational days (GDS) 6 through 19. 71 Dams were monitored for clinical effects, feed consumption, and changes in body weight, and the fetuses examined for body weight, sex, and visceral and skeletal alterations at GD 20. Two dams died after treatment with 1600 mg/kg. Necropsy findings on these animals included liver hypertrophy, stomach expansion, and congestion/hemorrhage of the small intestines. Clinical signs in the 1600 mg/kg group included piloerection, abnormal gait, decreased activity, loss of fur, reddish vaginal discharge, nasal hemorrhage, and coma. There were no deaths and no clinical signs in the 400 and 800 mg/kg groups. A dosedependent decrease in gestational weight gain was observed during the treatment period, but this was not statistically significant as compared to controls. Feed consumption was significantly decreased on GD 6 and 9 in the 1600 mg/kg treatment group as compared to controls. No effects were observed on the number of corpora lutea, implantations, fetal deaths, litter size, and gender ratios. Male fetal body weight was significantly decreased in the 1600 mg/kg group as compared to controls. Female fetal body weight was also decreased at this exposure level, but the difference was not statistically significant. An increase in the incidence of skeletal variation and a delay in fetal ossification were observed in the 1600 and 800 mg/kg treatment groups, with the changes in the 800 mg/kg treatment group described as minimal by the authors. No evidence of teratogenicity was observed at any tested exposure level. The authors concluded that the observed developmental effects were due to maternal toxicity and determined the NOELs for both maternal and embryo-fetal developmental toxicity in rats of 800 and 400 mg/kg, respectively. Isopropyl alcohol Female Sprague-Dawley rats (25/group) received 0, 400, 800, or 1200 mg/kg per d isopropyl alcohol via gavage on GD 6 through 15.72 Female New Zealand white rabbits (15/group) were exposed to 0, 120, 240, or 480 mg/kg per d isopropyl alcohol via gavage on GD 6 through 18. Animals were observed for body weight, clinical effects, and feed consumption and the fetuses examined for body weight, sex, and visceral and skeletal alterations at GD 20 for rats and GD 30 for rabbits. In the rat study, 2 dams died at the 1200 mg/kg dose and I dam died at the 800 mg/kg dose. Maternal gestational weight gain was reduced at the highest dose tested. No other effects were observed on maternal reproductive health. Fetal body weights at the 2 highest doses were decreased statistically. No evidence of teratogenicity was observed at any dose. In the rabbit study, 4 does died at the 480 mg/kg dose. Treatment-related clinical signs of toxicity were observed at the 480 mg/kg dose, which included cyanosis, lethargy, labored respiration, and diarrhea. No treatment-related findings were observed at GD 30. Decreased feed consumption and matemal body weights, at 480 mg/kg, were statistically significant. No other effects were observed on maternal reproductive health. No evidence of teratogenicity was observed in the rabbits at any dose. The authors detemined NOELs for both maternal and developmental toxicity of 400 mg/kg, each, in rats and 240 and 480 mg/kg, respectively, in rabbits. Acetic acid. An assessment plan for acetic acid and salts submitted as part of the high production volume chemical challenge program reported that no effects were observed on nidation or on matemal or fetal survival in mice, rats, and rabbits at oral doses (intubation/dosed day 6 of gestation) up to 1600 mg/ kg bw/d of acetic acid.51 Sodium acetate. No maternal or neonatal effects were observed in mice exposed (gavage/dosed daily on days 8.12 of gestation) to 1000 mg/kg of sodium acetate.51 Sodium acetate was also determined to be nonteratogenic to chick embryos (10 mg/egg). Inhalation 13 1S Propyl alcohol. The effects of propyl alcohol on fertility were investigated by exposing male Sprague-Dawley rats ( 18/group) to 0, 3500, or 7000 ppm (0, 8.61, or 17.2 mg/L) propyl alcohol vapor via inhalation 7 h/d, 7 d/week for 62 days, prior to mating with unexposed virgin females.53 Female Sprague-Dawley rats (15/group) were similarly exposed and mated with unexposed males. Following parturition, litters were culled to 4/sex and the pups fostered by unexposed dams. The pups were weaned on postnatal day (PND) 25 and weighed on PNDs 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35. Male rats exposed to 7000 ppm exhibited a decrease in mating success with 2 of 16 producing a litter (l male died as a result of a cage fight and I male did not mate). Mating success was not affected in 3500 ppm exposed males or in females. Six males from the 7000 ppm group were retained to determine whether this effect was reversible. All 6 males successfully mated 15 weeks after exposure. The authors reported that weight gain was not affected in females exposed to 7000 ppm (data not shown) but the feed intake was decreased in this treatment group. Crooked tails were observed in 2 to 3 offspring in 2 of 15 litters from the 7000 ppm maternally exposed group. No other effects on female fertility were reported. No significant differences resulted between offspring of the 7000 ppm group and controls on several behavioral toxicology measures including the Ascent test, Rotorod test, Open Field test, activity test, running wheel activity, avoidance conditioning, and operant conditioning. Activity measures were significantly different between offspring of the 3500 ppm exposure group and controls. Genotoxicity A summary of in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity studies is given in Table 8. Methyl acetate, prdpyl acetate isopropyl acetate, t-butyl acetate propyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol. Methyl acetate, propyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, t-butyl acetate, propyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol were not mutagenic in in vitro bacterial and mammalian cell assays.38.73-79 Isopropyl alcohol was not genotoxic in an in vivo micronucleus assay.6 Acetic acid. Acetic acid was reported to be slightly mutagenic to Escherichia coli and mammalian cells, but, a more recent mammalian assay suggests that acetic acid is not mutagenic and that previous results were an aberration due strictly to low pH, and not the identity of the pH reducer.80.81

General safety info about Citric Acid from CIR

Alkyl acetates, as well as acetic acid and acetate salts, are widely used cosmetic ingredients, with a wide range of functions as fragrances, solvents, or skin-conditioning agents, depending on the specific ingredient. Available data on alkyl acetates, and acetic acid and the alcohol to which they could be metabolized, were considered adequate to support the safety of the entire group in the present practices of use and concentration in cosmetics.

Use this, not that!

Products where you might find Citric Acid

unday Riley GOOD GENES All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment ;Sunday Riley GOOD GENES All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment ;Sunday Riley GOOD GENES Glycolic Acid Treatment; The INKEY List Apple Cider Vinegar Acid Peel;Beautycounter Counter+ Overnight Resurfacing Peel;Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel