Pantothenic acid, also called pantothenate or vitamin B5 (a B vitamin), is awater-soluble vitamin. Pantothenic acid is an essential nutrient. Animals require pantothenic acid to synthesize coenzyme-A (CoA), as well as to synthesize and metabolize proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.
Contents
Uses
Small quantities of pantothenic acid are found in most foods. The major food source of pantothenic acid is meat. The concentration found in human muscle is about double that in other animals’ muscle. Whole grains are another good source of the vitamin, but milling removes much of the pantothenic acid, as it is found in the outer layers of whole grains. Vegetables, such as avocados and broccoli, also have an abundance. In animal feeds, the most important sources are alfalfa, cereal, fish meal, peanut meal, molasses, mushrooms, rice, wheat bran, and yeasts.
Benefits
Synthesizer
Vitamin B5 acts as a synthesizer of many important components required by the human body. For instance, it is essential for the formation of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, amino acids and antibiotics, while also stimulating adrenal hormones.
Stress Reducer
Vitamin B5 has the reputation of reducing stress and other serious mental problems like anxiety and depression, which ensures fitness of mind. It does this by regulating the hormones responsible for causing these mental conditions.
Heart Health
Vitamin B5 has an impressive record of keeping the human heart in normal working condition. It regulates the level of cholesterol and also helps in controlling blood pressure.
Builds Stamina
Vitamin B5 helps in reducing body fatigue and weariness and it sets the metabolic activities of the entire body on the right track. This means that this vitamin is capable of increasing the stamina of the human body to perform various tasks in an efficient and healthy way. This is a massive benefit of this vitamin, especially from the point of view of active individuals and athletes.
Skin and hair
More than anything else, Vitamin B5 helps to keep the skin healthy and attractive in appearance. It also helps to delay the appearance of premature aging signs on the skin like wrinkles and age spots. Studies have also shown that Vitamin B5 plays an important role in the pigmentation of hair and prevents it from losing its color until you are well into your older years.
Water Solubility
Since Vitamin B5 belongs to the group of water soluble vitamins, it does not add any type of toxic substance to the human body, thereby proving to be beneficial and effective for people from every age group and either gender.
Immune System Health
Vitamin B5 is very good at strengthening the immune system of the human body. This helps us fight against a number of infections and diseases. To decrease the chances of your body contracting something dangerous, be sure that your white blood cell count is maximized and your immune system is functioning properly by eating foods that are rich in vitamin B5.
Cautions
No side effects are known.
Interactions
None are recorded.
Other names
Vitamin B5, pantothenate
References
Source: Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantothenic_acid#Dietary
OrganicFacts, http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vitamins/vitamin-b5-or-pantothenic-acid.html