What You Need to Know About Pantothenic Acid

What is Pantothenic Acid?

It is usually referred to as vitamin B5, and sometimes as panthenol or calcium pantothenate. Pantothenic acid is very important for your body to carry out its normal physiological functions. It is essential for growth, reproduction and various body processes.

Pantothenic Acid Benefits

Pantothenic acid B5 is involved in various biological processes in your body. Pantothenic acid is utilized in the formation of coenzymes A and 4-phosphopantetheine, both of which are equally important in about a hundred metabolic reactions.

These processes include energy production, fatty acid catabolism, fatty acid synthesis, cholesterol, phospholipid and steroid hormone production, as well as synthesis if heme (from hemoglobin) and acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter), among many others.

It also stimulates manufacture of antibodies and promotes wound healing.

The pantothenic acid vitamin also helps the body in absorbing and properly utilizing the other vitamins in the body, such as vitamins B6, B12 and C.

It also helps produce vitamin D . In addition, vitamin B5 is important for you to maintain a healthy digestive tract and to breakdown carbohydrates, fats, lipids and various amino acids.

Pantothenic Acid Deficiency

There are a multitude of natural food sources of pantothenic acid. Common sources include corn, eggs, cheese, meat, peanuts, liver, soy, peas, broccoli, tomatoes, and whole grains.

Because of the wide occurrence of natural sources, pantothenic acid deficiency is somewhat rare. This is also due to the fact that the intestine produces some amount of pantothenic acid, which can be recycled and preserved. However, it does occur to some people, especially in those who are alcoholic, under-nourished or those who are undergoing too much fatigue.

Vitamin B5 deficiency causes various problems including increased risk of infection, depression, abdominal pains, fatigue, heart problems, sleep disturbances, weakness, decreased cholesterol and potassium levels and cramps.

Other Health Benefits Of Pantothenic Acid

Aside from those mentioned, B5 vitamins been seen to have other health benefits. For example, many studies have shown that pantothenic acid is highly effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis. It is also being studied for its role in assisting hepatitis treatment.

Pantothenic Acid Supplement

Due to the various advantages that pantothenic acid brings about, pantothenic acid supplements are quite popular. As was mentioned, pantothenic acid deficiency is quite rare. This does not go to show however that supplementation with pantothenic acid does not have its desirable benefits.

While pantothenic acid is more widely used in combination with the other B vitamins, taking sole pantothenic supplements are now most publicized for its effectivity in acne reduction.

Pantothenic Acid for Acne (Vitamin B5 Acne)

The overwhelming positive feedback on the use of pantothenic acid for acne is the main reason why it has been widely used in the recent years.

Theoretically, pantothenic acid has pronounced anti-inflammatory properties. It also increases zinc levels in inflamed and injured skin such that oral and topical treatment is seen to be effective. It also accelerates lipid breakdown thereby preventing further formation of acne.

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