Pantothenic acid (B5) is essential for biological reactions involving acetylation and energy production. Pantothenic acid helps in the formation of acetylcholine, the metabolism of fatty acids, and the incorporation of fatty acids into cell membrane phospholipids. It is also involved in making steroid hormones, vitamin A, vitamin D, and cholesterol. Good sources of pantothenic acid are egg yolk and fresh vegetables. The recommended daily intake of pantothenic acid is about 5 mg.

Metabolism of physiology
Pantothenic acid is a water-soluble vitamin essential for the synthesis of CoA and ACP (acyl-carrier protein, cofactors in energy yielding reactions including carbohydrate metabolism and fatty acid synthesis. Pantothenic acid is synthesized de novo by plants and micro-organisms; however, animals obtain the vitamin through their diet.

Benefits of pantothenic acid
Users report that pantothenic acid helps improve their mood and energy. When we take pantothenic acid, we notice an improvement in alertness, concentration, reduced fatigue, and visual clarity with dosages ranging from 100 to 250 mg. I do experience insomnia, though, when I take more than 250 mg of pantothenic acid, even if I take it in the morning. Benita von Klingspor, a nutritionist in Marina Del Rey, California, says, "Pantothenic acid is one of my favorite nutrients. I know the effects of this nutrient extremely well since I’ve been taking 100 to 250 mg most mornings for more than thirty years. I often recommend it to many clients with low energy. Pantothenic acid increases their alertness and focus, improves their mood, and enhances their joy in life. They begin to have more interest in whatever they’re doing. However, if people take too much pantothenic acid, they can become overstimulated, wired, and easily aggravated."

Availability of pantothenic acid
Pantothenic acid is sold over the counter in dosages ranging from 5 to 250 mg. It is also available in its activated form known as Pantethine. Pantethine, itself, is part of coenzyme A, a very important substance that participates in the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, fatty acids and dozens of other important chemical reactions. Cognitive effects of oral pantethine administration to humans have not been published. Pantethine is sold over the counter in dosages ranging from 5 to 50 mg. In my experience, a lower dosage of pantethine provides similar effects as a higher dosage of pantothenic acid.

Dosage of pantothenic acid
A dose of 50 to 100 mg a day of pantothenic acidis usually adequate on a long term basis, however 250 mg can be taken for brief periods.

Pantothenic acid deficiency
Deprivation of pantothenic acid elicits a movement disorder and azoospermia in a mouse model of pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration.
J Inherit Metab Dis. 2007 June. Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Can a movement disorder could be elicited by deprivation of pantothenic acid, the substrate for the enzyme pantothenate kinase 2 (PANK2), which is deficient in the inherited neurological disorder PKAN (pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration formerly called Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome). This study was undertaken because mice made null for Pank2 failed to show the neurological manifestations of the human disease. Wild-type and Pank2 mutant mice were fed pantothenic acid deficient diets and were monitored for general health, fertility and movement compared with animals on control diets over time. Mice of both genotypes on PA-deficient diets exhibited poor grooming, greying of fur and decreased body weight. With pantothenic acid deprivation, wild-type mice manifested azoospermia (a phenotype also seen in Pank2 mice) as well as a movement disorder with a low-lying pelvis and slow steps. Rear limbs appeared to drag and occasionally extended into unnatural postures for 16-17 s duration, possibly indicative of dystonia. Movement disruption probably also occurs in pantothenic acid -deprived Pank2 mutant mice, but they died precipitously before undergoing detailed analysis. Remarkably, restoration of dietary pantothenic acid led to recovery of general health and grooming, weight gain, reversal of the movement disorder, and reappearance of mature sperm within 4 weeks. This study confirms the primacy of pantothenic acid metabolism in the mechanism of disease in PKAN.

Pantothenic acid in pigs
Effects of pantothenic acid on growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing pigs fed diets with or without ractopamine hydrochloride.
J Anim Sci. 2007 Oct;85(10):2492-7. Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan
Experiments evaluated effects of added pantothenic acid on performance of growing-finishing pigs. Adding dietary pantothenic acid to diets during the growing-finishing phase did not provide any advantages in growth performance or carcass composition of growing-finishing pigs. It appears that the pantothenic acid in corn and soybean meal may be sufficient to meet the requirements of 25- to 120-kg pigs.

Pantothenic acid questions
Q. I am concerned about the possibility that pantothenic acid causes liver damage. I have read a couple of anecdotal stories of liver function abnormalities associated with pantothenic acid as well as an old study by Dr. Wirtschafter "Hepatocellular Lipid Changes Produced by Pantothenic Acid Excess." Do you believe that pantothenic acid can raise the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach to unacceptable levels?
   A. We know people who have taken 250 mg of vitamin B5 for many years without any apparent problems. However, as with almost any supplement or herb, it is a good idea to take a day off a week, a week off once a month or once every two months. It is also a good idea to not megadose on vitamins. We have not come across direct studies regarding the influence of pantothenic acid on hydrochloric acid.

I have read that too much pantothenic acid in the body may indicate an overgrowth of bacteria in the intestines. Do you know anything about that? I have all the symptoms of being wired, panicky etc of too much pantothenic acid. My doc did do blood levels and I have twice the amount of normal pantothenic acid in my system but I do not supplement. My doc is perplexed and so am I.
   There are many, many causes of being wired and panicky and a high pantothenic acid level would be very low on our list of causes.

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