Pantothenic Acid: Vitamin Extraordinaire

What is Pantothenic Acid?

From a scientific viewpoint, pantothenic acid is a component of coenzyme A which the body requires in order to process and generate energy from the food we eat. It is instrumental in the breakdown of fat, carbohydrates, and proteins into forms that the body can use. Pantothenic acid also aids in the body's ability to manufacture critical sex and stress related hormones, neurotransmitters, antibodies, cholesterol and maintain overall health.

Alternately, most consumers hold little regard for these processes, and want to know "What can it do for me?" "How much do I need?" "Where can I get it?" There are many benefits associated with using pantotgenic acid in the form of supplements, multivitamins, and ointments. Some of these benefits are widely accepted through research documentation while others are met with cautious speculation.

Where does it come from?

Pantothenic acid can be found in small quantities in almost any food, but is found in greater concentrations in meat (especially liver) and chicken, unprocessed whole grains, egg yolk, fish and shellfish, broccoli and legumes, avocados, mushrooms, and sweet potatoes. Normally, one can consume the recommended daily requirement (5mg for an average adult) through a normal diet. Medical circumstances or targeted benefits may cause one to increase this amount through the use of multivitamins or supplements. A typical supplement will provide a 10 mg dosage. There is no evidence of adverse effects, drug interactions, or dangers of overdose with these supplements and conversely the only recorded cases of deficiency occurred in severe cases of malnutrition.

What does it do?

Medical uses for pantothenic acid:

Treating testicular torsion where the testicle's cord is twisted, cutting off the oxygen supply, possibly affecting male fertility.

A panthenol ointment may be effectively used to treat and heal foot ulcerations which are a leading cause of amputations in diabetics.

Controversial evidence that suggests the ointment may speed healing of wounds by causing the skin to close faster.

Derivatives of pantothenic acid studies are shown to significantly lower LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol.

Pantothenic acid may be used as a part of a regimen to treat diabetic neuropathy.

Consumer uses for pantothenic acid:

Scientific study has shown that large doses of pantothenic acid resolved acne problems and decreased pore size.

Lab results suggested that skin irritation and loss of hair color in mice were caused by a deficiency of pantothenic acid, so the hair care industry began adding it to shampoos and other hair care products, but these claims have shown no beneficial results in humans.

It promotes a healthy digestive tract and helps the body use other vitamins more efficiently.

It may help with stress related migraines chronic fatigue syndrome.

It may reduce some of the withdrawal effects while undergoing smoking or alcohol cessation.

Pantothenic acid is one of those little miracles that not only sustains our lives but also provides us with treatments for some of today's most complex medical problems, as well as solutions to some of our most common ailments.