Vitamin B5: Benefits, Dosage, Contraindications
Other name(s)
Pantothenic Acid, Dexpanthenol
Scientific name(s)
D-pantothenic Acid
Family or group:
Vitamins
Indications
Rating methodology
EFSA approval.
Vitamin B5 Deficiency ✪✪✪✪✪
Vitamin B5 is very widespread in nature and no specific deficiency is known, only in severe malnutrition leading to insomnia, nausea, and increased sensitivity to infections. Experimentally induced vitamin B5 deficiency has been associated with reduced growth. In case of pantothenic acid deficiency, a dose of 5 mg to 10 mg has been used.
Posologie
Oral administration
5 - 10 mg
calcium pantothenate salt
Fatigue ✪✪✪✪✪
Pantothenic acid has been studied for its role in athletic performance because it is necessary for the production of coenzyme A (CoA), which is needed to transport fatty acyls (via conjugated acyl-CoA) to the mitochondria for fat to be used for energy production, and it is used in many other steps of the energy production cycle.
Posologie
Oral administration
5 mg
Emotional Balance ✪✪✪✪✪
Pantothenic acid is essential for controlling stress and adaptation ability to stressful events, due to its involvement in acetylcholine synthesis and its necessity for adrenal cortex function and steroid hormone synthesis.
Posologie
Oral administration
5 mg
Hypercholesterolemia ✪✪✪✪✪
Several clinical studies confirm that pantethine, a metabolite of pantothenic acid, exerts hypolipidemic activity. Several studies revealed that taking 300 mg of pantethine, three times a day, led to a significant reduction in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein), and triglycerides, and an increase in HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein).
Posologie
Oral administration
900 mg
Treatment of hyperlipemia in diabetic patients on dialysis with a physiological substance
Treatment of hyperlipoproteinemia with pantethine: a review and analysis of efficacy and tolerability
Pantethine improves the lipid abnormalities of chronic hemodialysis patients: results of a multicenter clinical trial
Hypertriglyceridemia ✪✪✪✪✪
Several clinical studies confirm that pantethine, a metabolite of pantothenic acid, exerts hypolipidemic activity. Several studies revealed that taking 300 mg of pantethine, three times a day, led to a significant reduction in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein), and triglycerides, and an increase in HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein).
Posologie
Oral administration
900 mg
Treatment of hyperlipemia in diabetic patients on dialysis with a physiological substance
Treatment of hyperlipoproteinemia with pantethine: a review and analysis of efficacy and tolerability
Pantethine improves the lipid abnormalities of chronic hemodialysis patients: results of a multicenter clinical trial
Acne ✪✪✪✪✪
The role of pantothenic acid alone is not yet known. Studies use vitamin B5 in combination with other B vitamins and L-carnitine. In fact, taking a supplement containing 2200 mg of pantothenic acid, 733.3 mg of L-carnitine, and other B vitamins, in two divided doses, has reduced acne. Another study conducted on a hundred Chinese patients with acne vulgaris (45 men and 55 women) who received 10 g of pantothenic acid, in four divided doses, and a cream containing 20% pantothenic acid with four to six applications per day, showed a reduction in sebum production in 1 to 2 days as well as a regression of lesions in 1 to 2 weeks. Patients with moderate acne reported complete control of acne after 8 weeks with only occasional appearance of a few lesions. The pathology of acne results from a deficiency in fatty acid metabolism, itself due to a dietary pantothenic acid deficiency. Pantothenic acid is physiologically active as coenzyme A, which is a cofactor in a variety of enzymatic reactions involving the transfer of acetyl groups in the form of acetyl-Co A. It therefore plays an important role in the oxidation and synthesis of fatty acids and other biological acetylations. Acetyl-Co A is also the building block of cholesterol and steroid hormones, including sex hormones and adrenocortical hormones. Given the crucial importance of pantothenic acid as a component of coenzyme A in the metabolism of fatty acids and steroid hormones, it is not surprising that pantothenic acid deficiency may be involved in the pathogenesis of acne.
Posologie
Oral route
2.2 - 10 g
calcium pantothenate salt
Skin Healing ✪✪✪✪✪
Dexpanthenol, an analogue of pantothenic acid, may be effective for treating skin irritation caused by sodium lauryl sulfate. Indeed, using an ointment containing dexpanthenol 1% to 5% twice daily for 30 days after skin exposure to sodium lauryl sulfate appears to reduce water loss and skin inflammation compared to the control.
Posologie
Cutaneous route
dexpanthenol
Constipation ✪✪✪✪✪
Clinical research shows that dexpanthenol (an analogue of pantothenic acid) at a dose of 400 mg orally or 500 mg intramuscularly per day for 5 days improves the number of bowel movements in patients suffering from chronic or occasional constipation compared to placebo.
Posologie
Oral route
400 mg
dexpanthenol
Rhinitis ✪✪✪✪✪
Clinical research shows that using a specific spray containing dexpanthenol, an analogue of pantothenic acid, four times daily for 4 weeks decreases nasal obstruction as well as pharyngitis in patients with anterior dry rhinitis compared to placebo.
Posologie
Nasal route
4 - weeks
dexpanthenol
Properties
Essential
Pantothenic acid is a major component of the human body. It is necessary for the intermediary metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids. Dexpanthenol is converted in the body to pantothenic acid. The main role of pantothenic acid is that it is a necessary substrate for the formation of coenzyme A which is a cofactor for many enzymes (acetylation reactions in gluconeogenesis, energy release from carbohydrates, synthesis and degradation of fatty acids, synthesis of sterols, steroid hormones, acetylcholine, and other compounds) and it is mainly known for its role in energy production. Pantothenic acid also appears to be essential for normal epithelial function.
Usages associés
Dermatological Effect
A deficiency in pantothenic acid may be linked to acne. Studies have shown that pantothenic acid can reduce acne, but these studies used vitamin B5 in combination with other B vitamins and L-carnitine. The role of pantothenic acid alone is not yet known. On the other hand, supplementation with pantothenic acid and vitamin C seems to improve healing, but without changing the time needed for recovery. Finally, pantothenic acid is known as a supplement for hair health, but there are no reliable and sufficient studies regarding this effect.
Usages associés
Hypolipidemic
Pantothenic acid is essential for the formation of acetyl CoA, an important substrate in the catabolism of fatty acids. Indeed, pantothenic acid deficiency induced in rats fed with a low pantothenic acid diet led to fat accumulation. Pantethine, a metabolite of pantothenic acid, has been the subject of several clinical studies due to its significant hypolipidemic activity. According to in vivo research, the mechanism is related to the reduction of insulin resistance and the activation of lipolysis in serum and adipose tissue. In addition, inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase, as well as other enzymes involved in the cholesterol synthesis pathway, is likely responsible for the hypolipidemic activity.
Usages associés
Bioenergizer
Pantothenic acid has been studied for its role in athletic performance because it is necessary for the production of coenzyme A (CoA), which is needed to transport fatty acyls (via conjugated acyl-CoA) to the mitochondria for fat to be used for energy production, and it is used in many other steps of the energy production cycle.
Usages associés
Laxative
In large doses, dexpanthenol administered parenterally increases gastrointestinal peristalsis by stimulating the acetylation of choline to acetylcholine, but its efficacy has not been proven.
Usages associés
Antioxidant
New in vitro research supports the indirect antioxidant role of pantothenic acid, thanks to its ability to increase cellular adenosine triphosphate, which in turn creates increased levels of free glutathione and enhances cell protection against peroxidative damage.
Safety dosage
Adult from 18 year(s): 5 mg
No adverse effects up to 10 grams per day. Appropriate local application of gel, ointment or drops containing up to 5% dexpanthenol (derived from vitamin B5) has been safely used for up to 30 days.
Child from 1 to 10 year(s): 4 mg
Child from 11 to 17 year(s): 5 mg
Topical application is safe for children when done appropriately.
Infant from 7 to 11 months: 3 mg
Topical application is safe for children when done appropriately.
Interactions
Médicaments
Antibiotics: weak interaction
Limited animal data indicate that intestinal microflora synthesize pantothenic acid. In humans, it is still unknown if it is an important source of vitamin B5. Antibiotic therapy may lead to changes in intestinal microflora, but supplementation is likely not necessary.
Precautions
Pregnant woman from 18 year(s): use with caution
The average daily intake level of vitamin B5 in lactating women is 5 mg/day. However, there is no reliable information regarding higher doses.
Lactating woman from 18 year(s): use with caution
The average daily intake level of vitamin B5 in lactating women is 7 mg/day. However, there is no reliable information regarding higher doses.
Hemophilia : avoid
Dexpanthenol (alcohol analogue of pantothenic acid) can prolong bleeding time. Hemophiliacs should be cautious.
Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases : use with caution
Dexpanthenol administered in enema form may increase abdominal cramps and worsen symptoms in patients with ulcerative colitis.
Contraindications
Intestinal obstruction : prohibited
Injection of dexpanthenol (alcohol analogue of pantothenic acid) is contraindicated in individuals with intestinal obstruction.
