T

he word ‘Pantothenic acid’ takes its origin from the Greek word ‘pantothen’, meaning ‘from everywhere’. This is to infer the presence of pantothenic acid minimally or in small quantities in nearly every food.

Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), which is a member of the B complex vitamin is the combination of pantoic acid and β-alanine.

The water-soluble vitamin is an essential nutrient present in some foods, added to others and available as a dietary supplement.

The primary role of pantothenic acid is to function as a substrate for the synthesis of coenzyme A (CoA) and an acyl carrier protein (ACP), upon which many life-supporting, essential reactions in the human body depend. CoA has a role in fatty acid metabolism, transfer of acetyl and acyl groups,       a multitude of anabolic and catabolic processes.

Coenzyme A is essential to many metabolic reactions, including the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, energy release from foods, synthesis of hormones, cholesterol, amino acids, phospholipids, fatty acids, antibodies, neurotransmitters, skin health, heart health, healthy immune system and so on.

 

SOURCES OF VITAMIN B5     

Pantothenic acid is found in varying amounts in most foods of plant and animal origin. Fortified cereals, avocado, mushrooms, whole milk, whole grains, nuts, broccoli, sweet potatoes, lentils, sunflower seeds are some of the plant sources of vitamin B5. In animal sources, fish, organ meats, chicken contain good amounts of vitamin B5.

Among dietary supplements, Calcium pantothenate (calcium salt of the water-soluble vitamin) is the commonly used form of vitamin B5 because of its chemical stability and long shelf life compared to sodium pantothenate or free pantothenic acid.

 

ZENITH NUTRITION VITAMIN B5 (PANTOTHENIC ACID)     

Zenith Nutrition vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) is available in the form of calcium pantothenate. It is a stable form of the vitamin, water-soluble and suitable for vegetarians. Each capsule provides 500mg of pantothenic acid. The vegetarian dietary supplement is manufactured in a GMP-certified unit, it is free of fillers, binders, additives, gelatin, soy, dairy, yeast and preservatives. Every batch of the supplement goes through extensive quality control testing for assurance on purity, potency and quality.

 

WHAT IS THE NEED TO SUPPLEMENT WITH VITAMIN B5?

Most people although get enough vitamin B5 from food, there are reasons why we might require vitamin B5 supplement. This is usually due to poor diet, poor absorption, or increased requirement.

As a water-soluble vitamin, vitamin B5 does not get stored in the body and is required to be consumed regularly.

 

WHO NEEDS TO SUPPLEMENT WITH VITAMIN B5?

Vitamin B5 supplement is good for those with issues of acne, allergies, burning feet, skin disorders, anxiety, signs of aging, low immune, constipation, leg cramps, and insomnia.

 

HOW ABOUT SAFETY?

Since vitamin B5 is a water-soluble nutrient, it does not get stored in the body. It is unlikely for you to have toxic levels of this vitamin in the body. Any excess amount of the nutrient will get eliminated through urine.

 

SYMPTOMS OF DEFICIENCY OF VITAMIN B5

• Frequent headaches
• Fatigue
• Forgetfulness
• Moodiness
• Impaired energy production
• Unsteadiness
• Impaired Acetylcholine synthesis
• Irritability
• Numbness or burning sensation in hands or feet 

 

PROTECTS SKIN HEALTH

The possible skin benefits of vitamin B5 include rejuvenating, moisturizing and soothing properties. Regular supplementation with vitamin B5 helps reduce signs of aging, prevent wrinkles. Pantothenic acid significantly increases antioxidant levels in the skin. Vitamin B5 can help reduce incidents of acne formation by reducing oil production of the sebaceous glands through an increase in coenzyme A.

• Reduces the number of blemishes and improves the quality of the skin.
• Causes skin to bind to water, effectively increases skin moisture levels.
• Prevents dryness, roughness, flakiness and itchiness of the skin.
• Helps to stabilize skin barrier function.
• Smooths fine lines and repairs damaged skin tissue.
• Improves the softness and elasticity of the skin.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

AIDS IN IMMUNE FUNCTION

Studies suggest that immune function often decreases with age, and this decrease is related to poor nutrition. Poor nutrition results in increased infection, slow healing from injury and infection and increases susceptibility to immune system dysfunction. Vitamin B5 promotes the production and release of antibodies from B-cells, deficiency of vitamin B5 results in reduced levels of circulating antibodies. When we are stressed, our body loses some of its ability to fight off invaders because the body becomes depleted of energy.

Pantothenic acid helps control the body’s stress response, maintains a healthy metabolism, involved in energy production, hormonal regulation and production of antibodies. Its supplementation is great for increasing immune strength and helping the body function well.                                                                                                                                        

IMPROVES STAMINA

Reduced energy levels in the body can lead to fatigue, irritability, an imbalance in sugar levels and sleep disturbances. Vitamin B5 synthesizes coenzyme A required for fatty acid synthesis and breakdown of glucose, fats, protein for energy. Pantothenic acid is essential coenzyme in mitochondrial aerobic respiration and cellular energy production. It has a direct role in the citric acid cycle, the electron transport chain and the resultant formation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the cell’s energy currency.

 

MAINTAINS HEALTHY NERVOUS SYSTEM & BOOSTS STRESS RESPONSE

Deficiency in vitamin B5 levels causes reduced ability to handle stress and develop adrenal fatigue. This can include having trouble sleeping, mood swings, weight gain, headache and other stress symptoms.

Vitamin B5 helps reduce anxiety because of its role in producing coenzyme A which is responsible for the synthesis of acetylcholine and myelin. Acetylcholine is the primary neurotransmitter that allows your nervous system to communicate back and forth with your organs.  It contracts smooth muscles, dilates blood vessels, regulates energy production and therefore has the ability to reduce stress, anxiety and depression.

 

IMPROVES CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH

Increased homocysteine levels, stress, inflammation and impaired lipoprotein metabolism are the leading reasons for cardiovascular ailments. Pantothenic acid regulates levels of triglycerides and has a role in lipoprotein metabolism. It enables the healthy functioning of the heart by regulating levels of cholesterol. Pantothenic acid helps reduce the inflammatory process, it also reduces homocysteine levels and plaque buildup effectively and might decrease cardiovascular risk.

 

Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4772032/

https://www.crnusa.org/sites/default/files/pdfs-benefits/14CRN-BenefitsBook-Bcvd.pdf

https://www.nmcd-journal.com/article/S0939-4753(17)30118-7/abstract