Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5, calcium pantothenate)

Pantothenic acid, also called vitamin B5, is an antioxidant water-soluble vitamin needed to break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Pantothenic acid comes in three forms, and it is alternately known as vitamin B5, panthenol and calcium pantothenate. Pantothenic acid is integral to many of the activities of enzymes in the human body. The body uses pantothenic acid to break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats for energy. Pantothenic acid functions as a component of coenzyme A and phosphopantetheine, which are involved in fatty acid metabolism. This vitamin also produces numerous enzymes and helps maintain precise communication between the central nervous system and the brain.

Pantothenic acid is vital to the synthesis and maintenance of coenzyme A (CoA), a cofactor and acyl group carrier for many enzymatic processes, and acyl carrier protein, a component of the fatty acid synthase complex. Pantothenic acid is metabolized to coenzyme A via a sequence of steps. Coenzyme A is a precursor of acyl carrier protein. Coenzyme A (CoA) is involved in the metabolic release of energy from macronutrients – especially fats – from the TCA cycle, metabolism of drugs and toxins in the liver, and the synthesis of lipids, acetylcholine, steroid hormones, porphyrins, hemoglobin, and melatonin. Because of the wide variety of roles CoA plays in the body, the utilities of supplemental pantothenic acid are many.

Pantothenic acid is a water-soluble vitamin, which means that it cannot be stored by the body and must be replenished every day. Pantothenic acid is virtually ubiquitous. It is present in foods as diverse as poultry, soybeans, yogurt, and sweet potatoes. Pantothenic acid comes in two forms: calcium pantothenate and pantethine. The former is widely used for treating ailments from stress to heartburn, while pantethine is mainly recommended for lowering blood cholesterol levels in those who don't respond to other natural treatments. The principal supplemental form of pantothenic acid is calcium D-pantothenate (D-calcium pantothenate). Dexpanthenol, the corresponding alcohol of pantothenic acid is also available. Dexpanthenol is used topically to promote wound healing.

Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) functions, uses, and health benefits

Vitamin B5 is essential for human growth, reproduction and many normal bodily processes. Vitamin B5 helps metabolize nutrients, manufacture antibodies and produce vitamin D. It also stimulates the healing of wounds. Pantothenic acid is involved in a number of biological reactions, including the production of energy, the catabolism of fatty acids and amino acids, the synthesis of fatty acids, lipids, cholesterol and steroid hormones, and the production of both coenzyme A, and the cellular antioxidant glutathione. Vitamin B5 is critical to the manufacture of red blood cells as well as sex and stress-related hormones produced in the adrenal glands (small glands that sit atop of the kidneys). Supplements are sometimes used to treat symptoms of allergy and a wide range of skin conditions.

Pantothenic acid is used in the breakdown of carbohydrates, lipids and some amino acids and is also used in the synthesis of coenzyme A. It is the most important component of coenzyme A, which assists in several metabolic pathways and is necessary for the transfer of fats to and from cells. Without it, fats could not be metabolized to energy. These processes include the metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins, the production of glucose in the body, the breakdown of fats and the production of cholesterol and certain hormones. Pantothenic acid plays a role in the synthesis of hemoglobin, steroid hormones, neurotransmitters, and lipids.

Vitamin B5 is important in maintaining a healthy digestive tract and it helps the body use other vitamins more effectively. Pantothenic acid may help to manage stress from psychological strain, migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome, and smoking and alcohol cessation. Pantothenic acid has long been known to be essential for consistent antibody production, for the production of diphtheria toxoid and hemagglutinating antibodies, and for vaccinations against tetanus, typhoid, or Asian influenza. Adding calcium-D-pantothenate to cultured human skin cells given an artificial wound increased the number of migrating skin cells and their speed of migration, effects likely to accelerate wound healing.

The body converts pantothenic acid into a chemical called pantethine. When taken as a supplement, pantethine appears to lower the amount of lipids in the blood. A person with high cholesterol may see their level of total of cholesterol--including LDL ("bad") cholesterol--while at the same time increasing HDL ("good") cholesterol levels.

Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) dosage, intake, recommended daily allowance (RDA)

There's no formal RDA for pantothenic acid, however, a lack of pantothenic acid is often associated with a lack of other B vitamins. Vitamin B5 is available alone as calcium panthothenate (8% calcium, 92% pantothenic acid). However, to avoid vitamin B imbalance, take a B-complex formula that includes Vitamin B5 or with other B vitamins. The normal daily allowance for vitamin B5 is about 4 to 7 mg per day for adults, which is normally well provided for in the diets of most people. Single ingredient tablets and capsules of pantothenic acid are available in doses ranging from 100 to 500 milligrams. Higher doses may be recommended by a qualified practitioner for the treatment of specific conditions.

Sources of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5)

Common sources of pantothenic acid are cheese, corn, eggs, liver, meats, peanuts, peas soybeans, brewer's yeast, and wheat germ. Because of its wide occurance, pantothenic acid deficiency is very rare unless specifically engineered for the purposes of biochemical investigations. The best sources of this vitamin are brewer's yeast, corn, cauliflower, kale, broccoli, tomatoes, avocadolegumes, lentils, egg yolks, beef (especially organ meats such as liver and kidney), turkey, duck, chicken, milk, split peas, peanuts, soybeans, sweet potatoes, sunflower seeds, whole-grain breads and cereals, lobster, wheat germ, and salmon. Good natural sources of pantothenic acid include yeast, liver, eggs, wheatgerm, bran, peanuts, peas, meat, milk, poultry, whole grains, broccoli, mushrooms and sweet potatoes. Most vegetables and fruits contain small amounts. Heat, food processing techniques and canning destroy pantothenic acid.

Vitamin B5 is found in a very wide variety of foods. Foods that have high levels of vitamin B5 include organ meats (e.g. liver and kidney), eggs, fish and shellfish, lobsters, poultry, soybeans, lentils, split peas, milk, yoghurt, avocado, mushrooms and sweet potatoes. The best sources of pantothenic acid include eggs, liver, fish, chicken, whole grain breads, cereals and legumes.

Other good sources are cauliflower, broccoli, lean beef, white and sweet potatoes, and tomatoes. Most fresh vegetables are good sources for Vitamin B-5. Brewer's and nutritional yeast, liver, eggs, mushrooms, avocados, broccoli, whole grains, bran, peanuts, cashews, legumes, and soybeans are especially high in vitamin B5. Pantothenic acid is found throughout living cells in the form of coenzyme A (CoA), a vital coenzyme in numerous chemical reactions. Liver, yeast, and salmon have high concentrations of pantothenic acid, but most other foods, including vegetables, dairy, eggs, grains, and meat, also provide some pantothenic acid.

Pantothenic acid is widely distributed in plant and animal food sources, where it occurs in both bound and free forms. Rich sources of the vitamin, include organ meats (liver, kidney), egg yolk, avocados, cashew nuts and peanuts, brown rice, soya, lentils, broccoli and milk. Royal jelly and brewer's yeast, both of which are used as nutritional supplements, are two of the richest sources of pantothenic acid. The richest sources of the vitamin are the ovaries of cod and tuna. Pantothenic acid is synthesized by intestinal microflora and this may also contribute to the body's pantothenic acid requirements.

Calcium pantothenate and sodium pantothenate are the principal supplemental forms of pantothenic acid most often found in nutritional supplements. This marketed supplement is usually made synthetically. Dexpanthenol, the corresponding alcohol of pantothenic acid is also available. Dexpanthenol is a synthetic form which is not found naturally. Dexpanthenol is converted to pantothenic acid in the body, and therefore can be considered a provitamin form of pantothenic acid. Dexpanthenol is used topically to promote wound healing. It is also used in various cosmetic products.

Pantothenic acid loss during processing is significant, as it is stable in neutral solution but is readily destroyed by heat in either alkali or acid. As such, significant amounts can be destroyed during food preparation. Cooking is reported to destroy 15-50% of the pantothenic acid in meat, and studies have shown that 37-78% of the vitamin in fruits and vegetables can be lost during processing. Vitamin B5 can be found in multivitamins, B complex vitamins, or sold individually under the names pantothenic acid and calcium pantothenate. It is available in a variety of forms including tablets, softgels, and capsules.

Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) deficiency

A deficiency of pantothenic acid in adults is virtually nonexistent, largely because it is present in so many foods. Pantothenic acid deficiencies may occur in people with alcoholism but are generally believed to be rare. Fatigue is probably the earliest and most common symptom of pantothenic acid deficiency, though it is an unlikely vitamin deficiency because of the availability of B5 in many foods, plus the fact that it is also produced by our intestinal bacteria. Vitamin B5 deficiency causes depression, personality changes, heart problems, increased risk of infections, fatigue, abdominal pains, sleep disturbances, numbness and altered sensation in the arms and legs, muscle weakness, cramps, increased sensitivity to insulin (the hormone that lowers blood glucose levels), decreased blood cholesterol levels and decreased potassium levels in the body.

Pantothenic acid is a water-soluble vitamin that belongs to the B group of vitamins. Vitamin B5 is essential for human growth, reproduction and many normal bodily processes. Vitamin B5 is also important for the production of haemoglobin, which is the special substance inside red blood cells that transports oxygen to all the tissues in the body. Like the other B vitamins, pantothenic acid plays a role in energy production. It is also essential in the production of fatty acids and important hormones, and helps maintain the health of muscles and the digestive system.

Pantothenic acid is an essential component of coenzyme A, which functions in the metabolism of fatty acids, triglycerides and cholesterol. Pantothenic acid plays a role in the synthesis of adrenocortical hormones (cortisone and its intermediates), hemoglobin and myoglobin (a chemical in the muscles similar to hemoglobin in the blood).

Pantothenic acid deficiency is extremely rare in any but the most impoverished societies and is generally associated with severe nutritional deficiencies such as Kwashiorkor or marasmus. Fatigue is probably the earliest and most common symptom of pantothenic acid deficiency, though it is an unlikely vitamin deficiency because of the availability of B5 in many foods, plus the fact that it is also produced by our intestinal bacteria. Symptoms of pantothenic acid deficiency, which has occurred under conditions of severe malnutrition, include numbness in the toes and painful burning in the feet (melalgia).

Vitamin B5 deficiencies are rare but may occur in people with alcoholism, malabsorption conditions, or serious illnesses. Pantothenic acid deficiencies may occur in people with alcoholism but are generally believed to be rare. Pantothenic acid is usually present in oral supplements as calcium pantothenate. Pantethine is the most stable active form of pantothenic acid. A diet high in refined and processed foods or a reduction or destruction of intestinal flora, most commonly by antibiotic use, can lead to a vitamin B5 deficiency.

Teenagers are more likely to experience a deficiency, because their diets often include high amounts of "fast foods" sugars, and refined flours (all low in B vitamins). And the problem may be compounded because the acne often associated with this type of diet is commonly treated with tetracycline antibiotics, which reduce the intestinal bacteria and thereby the production of pantothenic acid in the colon.

Many foods contain vitamin B5, therefore a deficiency of this nutrient is rare. The Greek word "Panthos," from which its name is derived means "everywhere." Vitamin B5 is available from a very large range of food sources. Symptoms of a vitamin B5 deficiency may include fatigue, insomnia, depression, irritability, vomiting, stomach pains, burning feet, and upper respiratory infections. Vitamin B5 deficiency causes depression, personality changes, heart problems, increased risk of infections, fatigue, abdominal pains, sleep disturbances, numbness and altered sensation in the arms and legs, muscle weakness, cramps, increased sensitivity to insulin (the hormone that lowers blood glucose levels), decreased blood cholesterol levels and decreased potassium levels in the body.