What's on this Page
What is Pantothenic Acid Vitamin B5
Pantothenic acid vitamin B5 is a water-soluble vitamin found in foods such as peas, beans, lean meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk, and whole-grain cereals.
Unlike other vitamins, pantothenic acid has no Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA).
It is questionable whether a true deficiency state can be produced in the absence of other deficiencies, perhaps due to the widespread availability of pantothenic acid in foods.
Deficiency states have been observed in conjunction with other B complex vitamin deficiencies.
Experimentally induced pantothenic acid deficiency resulted in somnolence, fatigue, headache, paresthesia of the hands and feet, hyperflexia and muscular weakness in the legs, cardiovascular instability, GI complaints, changes in disposition and an abnormal suceptibility to infections.
There is no indication for pantothenic acid, except in conditions of vitamin B complex malabsorption such as tropical sprue, celiac disease, and regional enteritis.
A parenteral derivative of pantothenic acid is known as dexpanthenol
Pantothenic acid was approved by the FDA in 1940.
Indications
- nutritional supplementation
- vitamin B deficiency
For the treatment of vitamin B deficiency
Side Effects
- cardiac tamponade
- diarrhea
- nausea
- pericardial effusion
- pericarditis
- pleural effusion
- pyrosis (heartburn)
Monitoring Parameters
- laboratory monitoring not necessary
Contraindications
- breast-feeding
- pregnancy
Interactions
There are no drug interactions associated with Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin B5 products.
