Vitamin B5 – Pantothenic Acid

Vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid, helps process fat and carbohydrates into energy, maintains healthy fat levels in cells and supports a properly functioning adrenal gland.

B5/Pantothenic Acid Food Sources

Pantothenic acid is found in a few foods that can be added to green smoothies. To ensure you get adequate amounts of this vitamin in your diet, try to include some of the “Vegetarian Foods” options as well on a daily basis.

B5/Pantothenic Acid Deficiency

As with most B vitamin deficiencies, an inadequate level of pantothenic acid can result in fatigue and weakness. Burning foot syndrome, which is characterized by burning, shooting pain in the feet is also symptomatic of B5 deficiency.

Vitamin B5 requires adequate levels of other B-vitamins including folate, biotin and vitamin B12 to function properly.

B5/Pantothenic Acid Toxicity

While excessive doses from vitamin B5 supplements may result in diarrhea, there are no known documented cases of toxicity.

The Effects of Cooking On B5/Pantothenic Acid

Up to 50% of vitamin B5 may be lost as a result of cooking, processing and storage.

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Tags: nutrients, pantothenic acid, vitamin b5