| Vitamin B5 is also known as pantothenic acid. Its | | | | ·painful & burning feet |
| name is derived from the Greek word pantos | | | | · skin abnormalities |
| meaning "from everywhere," as small quantities of | | | | · numbness and poor coordination |
| pantothenic acid are found in nearly every food. | | | | · abdominal and muscle cramps |
| In its functional form, vitamin B5 gets combined with | | | | · vomiting |
| another small, sulfur-containing molecule to form | | | | · anaemia |
| coenzyme A (or CoA). | | | | · insomnia and depression |
| This conversion allows vitamin B5 to participate in a | | | | · stunted growth |
| wide variety of chemical and organic reactions. | | | | · restlessness |
| Coenzyme A is needed to carry out various | | | | Most of these symptoms and signs get resolved with |
| metabolic functions, and for the generation of energy | | | | external administration of pantothenic acid. |
| in the form of ATP from fats, carbohydrates and | | | | Vitamins B12, folic acid and biotin are required for |
| proteins. | | | | proper use of vitamin B5 in the body's biochemical |
| Roger J. Williams, the discoverer of pantothenic acid | | | | activities. In addition, vitamin C somewhat helps |
| suggested that Vitamin B5 might be helpful in the | | | | prevent B5 deficiency. |
| management of certain medical disorders, such as | | | | Dosage of Vitamin B5 - |
| rheumatoid arthritis. | | | | Since deficiency of pantothenic acid is rare, so there |
| Functions of Vitamin B5 -v Vitamin B5 is also known | | | | is no recommended daily intake for this vitamin. |
| as the anti-stress vitamin at times. It is one of the | | | | Pantothenic acid is mostly included in B-complex |
| eight water soluble B complex vitamins.v Vitamin B5 | | | | multivitamins. The RDA for men is 10 mg and women |
| helps production of the cellular antioxidant glutathione, | | | | is 8 mg. |
| and is therefore an essential vitamin for all life | | | | Normal daily intake of pantothenic acid for adults is 4 |
| forms.v Helps in the break down carbohydrates, | | | | to 7 milligrams. Vitamin B5 should be taken with |
| proteins and fats for energy - thus a stamina | | | | water, preferably after eating. |
| enhancer.v This vitamin plays an important role in | | | | Pantothenic acid does not usually cause any side |
| production of adrenal hormones in the adrenal | | | | effects, but pregnant and lactating mothers should |
| glands.v Vitamin B5 helps to produce | | | | be careful to consume only the normal daily intake. |
| neurotransmitters, cholesterol required for proper | | | | Vitamin B5 can be found in multivitamins, B complex |
| nerve and muscle performance.v It is also responsible | | | | vitamins, or sold individually under the name of |
| for haemoglobin production and metabolism of toxins | | | | pantothenic acid and calcium pantothenate. It is |
| by the liver.v It plays an important role in cell division, | | | | available in a variety of forms including tablets and |
| DNA reproduction and RNA transcription.v It regulates | | | | capsules, and must be taken under medical |
| the formation of stress hormones and hair | | | | supervision. |
| pigmentation. | | | | Dietary sources of Vitamin B5 - |
| Deficiency of Vitamin B5 - | | | | The term pantothenic acid is derived from the Greek |
| It is an unlikely that an adult will have a deficiency of | | | | word pantos, meaning everywhere. Vitamin B5 is |
| vitamin B5 because of the availability of B5 in many | | | | widely distributed in plant and animal food sources, |
| foods, plus the fact that it is also produced by our | | | | where it occurs in both bound and free forms. |
| intestinal bacteria. | | | | Pantothenic acid is richly found in peanuts, liver, |
| However, a deficiency of Vitamin B5 causes fatigue, | | | | kidney, cauliflower, mushrooms, seeds and other |
| muscle weakness, personality changes, psoriasis, and | | | | nuts, pumpkin, mushrooms, legumes, sweet potato, |
| headache. Vitamin B5 is often used to treat the | | | | milk, soya, cheese, egg yolk, fish, chicken, wholegrain |
| symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, edema, swelling, | | | | bread and cereals, and bananas. The richest sources |
| pain, and stiffness in joints. | | | | of the vitamin are the ovaries of cod and tuna fish. |
| Pantothenic acid is also recommended to prevent | | | | Breakfast cereals are also a good source if they |
| stress and relieve insomnia, arthritis, food intolerance | | | | have been fortified with pantothenic acid. |
| and teeth grinding. | | | | Do not add soda to the water used for cooking |
| Oral application of pantothenic acid helps relieve many | | | | vegetables - it will destroy the pantothenic acid. |
| skin problems and cure wounds. | | | | Vitamin B5 storage - |
| Who are at risk of Vitamin B5 deficiency?v Women | | | | Vitamin B5 is relatively unstable in food, and significant |
| who are on birth control pills are recommended to | | | | amounts of this vitamin can be lost through cooking, |
| take extra doses of Vitamin B5.v Smokers and | | | | freezing, and commercial processing. |
| alcoholics also fall under this category.v People | | | | Vitamins are easily destroyed and washed out during |
| undergoing stress, prone to allergies or eating too | | | | food preparation and storage. Store vitamin |
| many refined foods might develop a shortage of this | | | | supplements at room temperature, in a dry place |
| vitamin. | | | | that is free of moisture. |
| Symptoms of Vitamin B5 deficiency - | | | | |