Vitamin B-5; Pantothenic acid

By Syeda Hajra

 Pantothenic Acid

Pantothenic acid


The name pantothenic acid was derived from the Greek word pantothen, meaning "from every side", because it is present in all body cells and is supplied by a wide variety of foods. Pantothenic acid is part of coenzyme A (CoA), which is used throughout the body in energy metabolism. CoA forms when pantothenic acid combines with a derivative of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and part of the amino acid cysteine. Cysteine provides the sulfur atom, which is the functional end of the coenzyme.

Food sources:

https://foodandnutritionzone.blogspot.com
Rich food sources of Pantothenic acid

Our food supply provides ample amounts of pantothenic acid. One whole avocado provides more than  50% of the AI for pantothenic acid. Common sources include meat, milk, and many vegetables. Other rich food sources include mushrooms, peanuts, egg yolks, yeast, broccoli, and soy milk. In general, unprocessed foods are better sources of pantothenic acid than processed foods because milling, refining, freezing, heating, and canning can reduce pantothenic acid in foods.

Pantothenic acid Needs & Upper Level:

For adults, the Adequate Intake for pantothenic acid is 5 mg/day2. Adults generally consume the Adequate Intake or more. The Daily Value on food and supplement labels is 10 mg. There is no known toxicity for pantothenic acid, so no Upper Level has been set.

Absorption, Transport, Storage, and Excretion of Pantothenic Acid:

The pantothenic acid portion of any coenzyme A in the diet is released during digestion in the small intestine. It is then absorbed and transported throughout the body bound to red blood cells. Storage is minimal and is in the coenzyme form. Excretion of pantothenic acid is via the urine.

Functions of Pantothenic Acid:

Coenzyme A is essential for the formation of acetyl-CoA from the breakdown of carbohydrate, protein, alcohol, and fat. Acetyl-CoA molecules most often enter the citric acid cycle. Beta oxidation of fatty acids also requires coenzyme A. However, acetyl-CoA also is an important biosynthetic building block used to build fatty acids, cholesterol, bile acids, and steroid-hormones.
 Pantothenic acid also forms part of a compound called the acyl carrier protein. This protein attaches to fatty acids and shuttles them through the metabolic pathway designed to increase their chain length. As coenzyme A, pantothenic acid also donates fatty acids to proteins in a process that can determine their location and function within a cell.

Pantothenic Acid Deficiency:

Pantothenic acid deficiency is very rare and has been observed only when a deficiency was experimentally induced. Its symptoms include headache, fatigue, impaired muscle coordination and GI tract and disturbances.


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