Pantothenic acid , also called vitamin B5 , is a water-soluble vitamin involved in the Kreb’s cycle of energy production and is needed to make the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. It is also essential in producing, transporting, and releasing energy from fats. Synthesis of cholesterol (needed to manufacture vitamin D and steroid hormones) depends on pantothenic acid. Pantothenic acid also activates the adrenal glands. Pantethine—a byproduct of pantothenic acid—has been reported to lower blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.
Pantothenic acid (B5) is known as the “antistress vitamin.” It plays a role in the production of the adrenal hormones and the formation of antibiotics. This vitamin is required by all cells in the body and helps in the production of neurotransmitters.
Pantothenic Acid is a member of the B vitamin family; this is typically found in meat, eggs, legumes, mushrooms, broccoli and royal jelly. In the body, pantothenic acid is concentrated in the liver, adrenal gland, kidney, brain, and heart. Pantothenic Acid is utilized by cells to synthesize Coenzyme A (CoA), which is essential for the production of energy via the Krebs Cycle. Pantothenic Acid is also involved in intracellular protein metabolism and supports the wound healing process. Alcohol reduces pantothenic acid in tissues and impairs its metabolism.
A water soluble vitamin, it comes under the category of essential nutrients. This B vitamin is also called Pantothenate. It’s a B complex vitamin which performs many important roles for health especially in the oxidation of fats and carbohydrates. Just like other B vitamins Pantothenic acid or Vitamin B5 helps body to convert foods to produce energy. Not only it synthesizes carbohydrates, fats and proteins, it also synthesizes with a small sulphur containing molecule to create coenzyme A. Coenzyme A or CoA is required for variety of chemical reactions.
Pantothenic acid or Vitamin B5 is important for the fats production and then convert fats into usable energy. Pantothenic acid helps to change the structure and functions of proteins. Our body sometimes needs these changes of cell proteins. Vitamin B5 helps body in these chemicals reactions and thus regulates the important body functions.
Pantothenic acid is richly found in peanuts, liver, kidney, cauliflower, mushrooms, seeds and other nuts, pumpkin, mushrooms, legumes, sweet potato, milk, soya, cheese, egg yolk, fish, chicken, wholegrain bread and cereals, and bananas. The richest sources of the vitamin are the ovaries of cod and tuna fish.
Pantothenic acid is used in the breakdown of carbohydrates, lipids and some amino acids. It is also used for the synthesis of coenzyme A for biochemical reactions in the body. Biotin functions as a coenzyme in carboxylation reactions (-COOH), which are also useful in many of the body’s functions. (Pantothenic acid, biotin and folic acid are often used in tandem by the body.) Bacteria in our intestines produce both pantothenic acid and biotin. There is no known disorder associated with pantothenic acid deficiency. The vitamin is found in abundance in meats, legumes and whole-grain cereals. Mega-doses of pantothenic acid can cause diarrhea.
Pantothenic acid is frequently used in combination with other B vitamins in vitamin B complex formulations. Vitamin B complex generally includes vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin/niacinamide), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), and folic acid. However, some products do not contain all of these ingredients and some may include others, such as biotin, para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), choline bitartrate, and inositol.
