Vitamin B5: Health Benefits, Source, And Dosage

Vitamin B5: Health Benefits, Source, And Dosage. Vitamins are vital for the healthy functioning of the body. Their absence or lack may results to weakness, disease or even death. Vitamins are sometimes called as “co-enzymes” because they work together with enzymes or chemical catalyst in the body.

One of these vitamins needed by the body is the vitamin B complex. These are vitamins that are essential for the proper functioning of the body, specially for the brain and the nervous system.

One of these B complex is vitamin B5 or otherwise known as pantothenic acid. This vitamin stimulates metabolism and all life processes. It helps in the absorption of folic acid, and increases cortisone and other adrenal hormone output. It promotes growth, prevent graying of hair, and changes in skin. It helps the body to resist the effects of infections, stress, and premature aging of skin and organs. Vitamin B5 is an anti-stress factor for a strong immune system. Pantothenic acid or B5 is good for sunburn and skin burns, and may even protect against skin cancers. It protects, and helps in the rapid recovery from the harmful effects of radiation.

Vitamin B5 is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, adrenal function, and to lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Vitamin A, C, E, and other B vitamins are needed for the assimilation of pantothenic acid. Vitamin B5 is used in the production of co-enzyme A, and ACP, without which, the fat and carbohydrate cannot be used by the body for energy production. Vitamin B5 is also used in the production of red blood cells and adrenal hormones.

Although vitamin B5 deficiency is rare because pantothenic acid is found in so many different foods, its deficiency symptoms may include extreme fatigue, muscular weakness, infertility, reproductive problems, graying and loss of hair, retarded growth, insomnia, low blood sugar, skin disorders, asthma, anemia, eczema, chronic fatigue, greater tendency to infections, muscle cramps, low blood pressure, stomach distress, painful and burning feet, and numbness and shooting pains in the feet.

Richest source of vitamin B5 are brewer’s yeast, molasses, green vegetables, whole grain products, torula yeast, wheat germ, beans, peas, peanuts, crude molasses, yogurt, and egg yolk.

Dosage: RDA 4 mg; ODA 50 mg; TDA 50-200 mg. Recommended 250 mg daily. For rheumatoid arthritis, 2 grams daily, and for the lowering of cholesterol and triglycerides, 300 mg daily. Note: The above dosages are for adults. Dosage for children 12-17 years old should be reduced to 3/4 of the recommended dose, and for children 6-11 years old, dosage is 1/2 of the recommended. Warning:Continuous ingestion of pantothenic acid in high dosage can cause heart, kidney, and liver problems.