Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) is a water-soluble vitamin. Because pantothenic acid is present in a variety of plant and animal foods, deficiency is rare.1
This vitamin is required
for cells to synthesize coenzyme A (CoA), which is an essential cofactor for many meta- bolic reactions within the cell. CoA plays an essential role in the following: (1) convert- ing food to usable energy for the body; (2) producing cholesterol, steroid hormones, hemoglobin, and neurotransmitters; (3) helping the liver break down some medications and toxins; and (4) allosterically regulating proteins.2
The 4-phosphoantetheinyl moiety
of CoA can act as a prosthetic group and is required for the activation of proteins, includ- ing the acyl-carrier protein needed for fatty acid synthesis. Pantothenic acid also plays a role in releasing neurotransmitters for the transduction of information in the brain.3 Pantothenic acid supplements usually contain pantothenol, which is a stable alcohol of the vitamin that humans can quickly convert to pantothenic acid. Pantothenic acid sup- plements are also available as calcium and sodium D-pantothenate.4
Recommended (or Suggested) Intakes
The current Adequate Intakes (AIs) for pantothenic acid are provided in Table 1. There is limited information on the requirements for pantothenic acid in humans, and the AIs were established based on observed dietary intakes in healthy life-stage groups.5
Table 1 Dietary Reference Intakes for Pantothenic Acid5 Life-stage group