Ingredient Dictionary

BETA-ALANINE

Beta-alanine is a naturally-occurring beta-amino acid comprising propionic acid with the amino group in the 3-position.

Definition

Beta-alanine is a naturally-occurring beta-amino acid comprising propionic acid with the amino group in the 3-position. It has a role as a neurotransmitter, an inhibitor, an agonist, a human metabolite and a fundamental metabolite. It is a conjugate acid of a beta-alaninate. It is a tautomer of a beta-alanine zwitterion.

Source: PubChem

US FDA substance register · UNII 11P2JDE17B · registered name β-Alanine · single chemical substance

Source: US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)

Cosmetic roles

Draws in and holds moistureHUMECTANT

Safety & regulatory references

Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance

Source: Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)

Other restriction: ban substances that deplete the ozone layer

Source: EU CosIng ingredient list

More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature

Names & identifiers

BETA-ALANINEINCI.beta.-AlanineSynonym

CAS No.chemical registry number: 107-95-9
EC No.EU chemical inventory number: 203-536-5
DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID: DTXSID0030823
DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID: DTXCID8010823

IUPAC: beta-Alanine
Molecular formula: C3H7NO2
Molecular weight: 89.094 g/mol

Measured properties

Appearance: Solid, [Merck Index] White crystalline solid, [Alfa Aesar MSDS] · Solid
Melting point: 200 dec °C · 200 °C
Solubility: 545000 mg/L (at 25 °C) · 545.0 mg/mL
Dissociation constant: 10.2 · 3.63 (at 5 °C)
Colour: white
pH: 6.0-7.3 ()
Melting/freezing point: 94 ℃
Initial boiling point and range: 201 ℃
Relative density: 1.437 (at 19℃)
n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow): -1.10
Decomposition temperature: 207 ℃
Molecular weight: 89.09

Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.

Source: PubChem · KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)

What products actually use it for

What the 5 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.

Flavouring and nutrient4
Humectant1

Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard

Irritation and sensitisation studies

2 skin studies and 1 eye studies are on record.

Classed as low2

The study conclusions largely agree (100%). These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.

See all 3 studies

Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 404 (Acute Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) according to EU Method B.4 (Acute Toxicity: Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) according to
Not likely to be sensitizing
skin sensitisation: in vivo (LLNA) · Screening · according to OECD Guideline 429 (Skin Sensitisation: Local Lymph Node Assay) according to EU Method B.42 (Skin Sensitisation: Local Lymph Node Assay)
Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · EU Method B.5 (Acute Toxicity: Eye Irritation / Corrosion) according to OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion) according to