Supplements

Vitamin B5 (Pantethine/Pantothenic Acid)

Known as the "anti-stress" vitamin, vitamin B5 (or pantothenic acid) plays an important role in adrenal function and cellular metabolism. This water-soluble B vitamin is converted into a substance called coenzyme A, which is essential to the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins for energy.

Pantothenic acid is also a stamina enhancer and prevents certain forms of anemia. It is needed for normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and may be helpful in treating depression and anxiety.

Pantethine is required in the synthesis of fatty acids, cholesterol, steroids, bile, phospholipids, red blood cells, hormones, and neurotransmitters. Vitamin B5, as coenzyme A, is needed for proper adrenal cortex function. It supports the adrenal glands in the making of cortisone and other adrenal hormones that counteract the stress response and enhance metabolism.

Inflammation caused by arthritis, allergies, asthma, lupus, or psoriasis stand to benefit from vitamin B5 supplementation. Anyone who is currently taking prednisone, or another steroid medication may, at the very least, be able to take less of the drug when pantethene is taken. In addition to to increasing cortisone output from the adrenals, pantethine helps to increase omega-3 fatty acids in the body (EPA, DHA, and other essential oils).

Coenzyme A is needed to convert choline, a nutrient, into acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter involved with neuromuscular reactions. Vitamin B5 is necessary for proper functioning of the immune system. Research has demonstrated that a deficiency of this nutrient impairs immune system function and is therefore necessary for proper immune response.

Another important discovery about vitamin B5 is that it seems to help decrease the painful symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. In 1980, the General Practitioner Research Group conducted a double-blind study showing that calcium pantothenate supplementation significantly reduced the severity of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Thus, helping to support the use of vitamin B5 supplementation along with herbs and other natural therapies in the treatment of this disease.

Pantothenic Acid has been used for years as a gout remedy. Taking 200 mg four times a day breaks down the excess uric acid that leads to the condition's arthritic leg pain.

Other applications for B5 supplementation are: alcoholism, anxiety, depression, allergies, anemia, asthma, diabetes, Addison's disease, diarrhea, joint inflammation, mental illness, muscle cramps, respiratory infections, hair loss, and premature aging.

Pantothenic acid:
To reduce pain and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis
To improve wound healing
Pantethine:
To significantly lower blood cholesterol levels
Particularly beneficial for diabetics-to lower blood lipids without negatively affecting blood sugar control and to improve platelet function
To speed up the detoxification of alcohol

Deficiency: Human studies have shown that a deficiency of vitamin B5 results in fatigue, depression, digestive problems, problems with blood sugar metabolism (most commonly hypoglycemia), loss of nerve function, and depressed cellular and antibody immune response. These problems may manifest symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal cramps, tingling or burning hands or feet, skin problems, muscle cramps, recurring infections, and worsening of allergy or asthma symptoms.

Depleting Agents: Insecticides, alcohol, coffee, cooking, sulfa drugs, estrogen, sleeping pills.

Sources: Beef, brewer's yeast, eggs, fresh vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower, oranges, strawberries, kidney, legumes, liver, mushrooms, nuts, pork, poultry, royal jelly, saltwater fish, torula yeast, whole rye flour, and whole wheat.

Precautions: There is no documented toxicity with even large doses of vitamin B5.
There are no significant safety issues documented for vitamin B5. However, research has not been adequate enough to assess the safety of large doses over the long term. It is recommended that vitamin B5 be supplemented along with the rest of the B vitamin family to prevent metabolic imbalance. Carnitine, an amino acid, and coenzyme Q10 work together with pantothenic acid to promote proper fatty acid utilization.

No clinically significant interactions between pantothenic acid and conventional medications are known to have been reported in the literature to date.

Dosage Ranges and Duration of Administration: There is no RDA for vitamin B5, but the 1989 Safe and Adequate Intakes are as follows:

• Birth to 6 months: 2 mg
• 6 months to 1 year: 3 mg
• 1 to 6 years: 3 to 4 mg
• 7 to 10 years: 4 to 5 mg
• 11 years and older: 4 to 7 mg

Americans consume an average of 4 to 10 mg/day. Individual needs vary according to food intake and the amount of stress (physical, environmental, or emotional/mental) one is undergoing.

Optimum Daily Intake of pantothenic acid ranges anywhere between 10-100 mg per day. Therapeutic dosages range from 250 to 500 mg of pantothenic acid daily for general adrenal support to 2,000 mg daily for rheumatoid arthritis. The recommended dose of pantethine for lowering cholesterol and triglycerides is 300 mg three times daily (900 mg/day).