Vitamin B5 is also commonly called pantothenic acid on nutrition and product labels. Vitamin B5 is important for a wide range of uses within the body including very basic things like converting food into usable energy and the production of molecules that nerve cells use for communication. Vitamin B5 is a water soluble molecule that must be consumed frequently as it is not stored by the body. It can be found in many different foods, but is found in the largest quantities in meat, dairy and whole grain foods. The recommended amount of Vitamin B5 which should be consumed is 5mg/day in adults, but slightly more for women who are breastfeeding. A deficiency in vitamin B5 results in a large number of symptoms, the most common of which are fatigue and headaches. Poor hair and skin quality are also an early indications of a vitamin B5 deficiency. Vitamin B5 is used by a large number of systems throughout the body, but it is most well known for its specific and vital role in the usage and storage of fat.
Vitamin B5 is used at multiple places by the body in the production of energy. As mentioned, one of the most unique is the way the body uses Vitamin B5 to store fat and to convert fat into energy. This function also means that vitamin B5 has a vital role in the percentages of cholesterol types (LDL, HDL) found in the bloodstream. Besides fat, Vitamin B5 is also used by the body in the conversion of carbohydrates and proteins into energy. Because energy is used by every cell in the body, a lack of vitamin B5 can cause many different symptoms depending on which cells are starved for energy. In brain cells, a vitamin B5 deficiency can result in confusion, headaches and memory loss. In muscle cells, it results in weakness and fatigue. Because of the importance of vitamin B5 to energy production and the high energy requirements of certain other cells, a lack of vitamin B5 can have random effects such as poor skin and hair quality (especially the loss of color) as well as digestive problems.
Production of certain hormones, especially the cortisone based hormones of the adrenal glands, is highly dependant on the presence of sufficient levels of vitamin B5. These hormones have a wide range of functions that can all be severely diminished by a shortage of vitamin B5. These hormones play pivotal roles in metabolism, the immune system, skin maintenance and wound repair.
Besides it’s indirect function involving the immune system through hormones, Vitamin B5 is also directly utilized in the body in the production of antibodies and is therefore extremely important in disease prevention. Because of this interaction with the immune system, vitamin B5 supplements are often recommended for diseases such as arthritis.
Another important function of vitamin B5 is with wound repair. While this is related to hormone production, it also is important on its own in certain situations. For instance, one of the major problems with diabetes is foot ulceration which leads to amputations if the wounds cannot heal. Because vitamin B5 is so important in both overall skin quality and in the wound recovery, it can both help prevent the wounds, or help them heal before they become problematic.
Vitamin B5, also called pantothenic acid, is a B-complex vitamin whose major function within the body is the regulation of the use and storage of fat. Vitamin B5 is also used in all areas of energy production including carbohydrates and proteins. the body also uses vitamin B5 in many other processes including antibody and hormone production as well as neurotransmission and wound repair. Because the major functions of vitamin B5 are related to energy production, fatigue, weakness and diminished mental function are the major signs of a deficiency along with poor hair and skin quality. Vitamin B5 comes mainly from meat, dairy, whole grains and certain vegetables and must be consumed daily because the body does not store excess amounts.
