Pyridoxine
What Is It?
Pyridoxine is one form of vitamin B6. Pyridoxine is often included as a nutrient supplement in the form of its hydrochloride salt, Pyridoxine HCl. In the body, Pyridoxine is converted to the active form of vitamin B6, Pyridoxal 5-Phosphate. In cosmetics and personal care products, these ingredients may be used in the formulation of bath products, soaps and detergents, cleansing products, skin care products and hair care products.
Why Is It Used?
Pyridoxine, Pyridoxine HCl and Pyridoxal 5-Phosphate function as hair conditioning agents and skin conditioning agents – miscellaneous.
Scientific Facts
In the body, Pyridoxine is required for the synthesis of some neurotransmitters and for myelin formation. Major sources of vitamin B6 include: cereal grains, beans and other vegetables, potatoes, milk, cheese, eggs, fish, meat and flourThe fine edible powder obtained by grinding and sifting cereal grain, usually mostly freed from the bran.
Safety Information
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes Pyridoxine HCl on its list of direct food substances affirmed as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS“GRAS” is an acronym for the phrase Generally Recognized As Safe. Under sections 201(s) and 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act), any substance that is intentionally added to food is a food additive, that is subject to premarket review and approval by FDA, unless the substance is generally recognized, among qualified experts, as having been adequately shown to be safe under the conditions of its intended use, or unless the use of the substance is otherwise excluded from the definition of a food additive.). Pyridoxine HCl is permitted for use in food as a nutrient supplement.
FDA: Link to Code of Federal Regulations for Pyridoxine HCl: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr…
Pyridoxine, Pyridoxine HCl and Pyridoxal 5-Phosphate may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European UnionUnder the general provisions of the cosmetics regulation of the EU, ingredients appearing on the following function-specific annexes must comply with the listed restrictions and/or specifications: colorants (Annex IV), preservatives (Annex V), UV filters (Annex VI) and other ingredients with specific concentration limits and/or other restrictions (Annex III). Ingredients specifically prohibited from use in cosmetic products are listed in Annex II. Other ingredients listed in the EU cosmetic ingredient database (CosIng) may be used without restrictions..
Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation: http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_packaging/co0013_en.htm
Resources
Find out more about the regulation of Food Additives by the Food and Drug Administration
Food Ingredients and Packaging: http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/default.htm
Food Contact Substances: http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/PackagingFCS/default.htm
Substances Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS): http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/default.htm
Medline Plus Information on vitamin B6: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-b6.html
Search the Code of Federal Regulations http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm
EU Cosmetics Inventory http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/