Dietary Sources
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Vitamin B5, also called pantothenic acid, is one of 8 B vitamins. These B vitamins, often referred to as B complex vitamins, also help the body use fats and protein. They also help the nervous system function properly.
All B vitamins are water-soluble, meaning that the body does not store them. Vitamin B5 is also important in maintaining a healthy digestive tract, and it helps the body use other vitamins, particularly B2 (also called riboflavin). It is sometimes called the “anti-stress” vitamin, but there is no concrete evidence whether it helps the body withstand stress.
Your body needs pantothenic acid to synthesize cholesterol. A derivative of pantothenic acid called pantethine is being studied to see if it may help lower cholesterol levels in the body. In some open studies, pantethine seems to lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in people with diabetes.
But not all studies agree. Skin Care and Wound Healing
Preliminary research suggests that vitamin B5 has moisturizing effects on the skin, however, researchers aren’t clear why it works. Other studies, mostly in test tubes and animals but a few on people, suggest that vitamin B5 supplements may speed wound healing, especially following surgery.
One study found that people with RA may have lower levels of B5 in their blood than healthy people, and the lowest levels were associated with the most severe symptoms.
What Is Vitamin B5 Deficiency?
It usually occurs in combination with the deficiency of other vitamins. This nutrient deficiency can be found in those suffering from acute malnutrition or severe alcoholism.
Why Do We Need Vitamin B5?
These include: converting food into glucose
synthesizing cholesterol
forming sex and stress-related hormones
forming red blood cells As with all B vitamins, pantothenic acid helps the body break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins so that our bodies can use them for energy and rebuilding tissues, muscles, and organs. Coenzyme A Vitamin B5 has a role in synthesizing coenzyme A. Coenzyme A is involved in the synthesis of fatty acids and is important for converting foods into fatty acids and cholesterol. Coenzyme A is also needed for the creation of sphingosine, a fat-like molecule that helps deliver chemical messages inside the body’s cells.
Vitamin B2 helps manage stress, but there is no evidence that pantothenic acid reduces stress. The authors call for more trials to confirm the results. Cholesterol and triglycerides Some studies suggest that vitamin B5 intake can help lower cholesterol and levels of blood triglycerides, or fats.
This course of management should only be pursued under medical supervision.
Deficiency
Food sources of Vitamin B5 Vitamin B5 is widely found in both animals and plant products. Grains: Whole grain breads and cereals.
Legumes: Lentils, split peas, and soybeans. Other sources of vitamin B5 include brewer’s yeast, peanuts, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, royal jelly, and oatmeal Pantothenic acid is widely available in food, but it is lost in processing, for example, in canning, freezing, and milling.