The “Anti-Stress” Vitamin
Pantothenic Acid is water soluble and is the main component that makes coenzyme A (CoA) in the body.
CoA is found in all living cells making pantothenic Acid essential to sustain life.
Beta-alanine, also a component of vitamin B5, is metabolized from the amino acid alanine.
Why do you need Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)?
Pantothenic Acid (as CoA) is vital for:
- Carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism
- Supporting adrenals with hormone production, including melatonin
- Maintenance and repair of all cells and tissues
- Synthesis of essential lipids
- Synthesis of neurotransmitters
- Aids in the manufacture of vitamin D
- Helps produce red blood cells
The highest concentration of CoA is in the liver with the next highest concentration being in the adrenal glands.
This is important for two reasons:
- The high concentration of CoA in the liver makes it possible for the body to detox the many toxic substances we are exposed to, including alcohol.
- With high concentrations of CoA in the adrenals, the adrenals are able to make the hormone corticosterone. This hormone is critical as it helps the body to respond to the many kinds of stress we encounter.
Conditions Related to Pantothenic Acid Deficiency
The following diseases and conditions have been linked with pantothenic acid deficiency and have shown improvement with supplementation:
- Stress and fatigue
- Insomnia
- Arthritis
- neurological disorders
- Abdominal pain and distention
- Burning feet
- Upper respiratory infection
- Adrenal fatigue
- Alcoholism
- Bruxism (Grinding teeth)
- Acne
Dosages
Mega-doses ranging from 500mg to 2000mg have been used to treat various conditions. However, lower doses are more typical.
It should be noted that dosages as high as 30,000 mg have shown great success in the treatment of acne.
Toxicity
Pantothenic acid is a water-soluble vitamin and unlikely to reach toxic levels as your body simply eliminates what it cannot use.
Mega-dosages of any vitamin can cause some discomfort, generally in the form of gastrointestinal upset. If this occurs, simply reduce the dose until the discomfort discontinues.