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Pantothenic Acid - Vitamin B5 - Anti-Stress Vitamin

By Viola Woolcott

Pantothenic acid belongs to the B-group Vitamins. As it is a water-soluble Vitamin, it needs to be replaced daily as it does not store in your body. It gets passed out during urination.

Pantothenic acid has some important functions such as releasing energy from the food that we eat. Because of its important role in the functioning of the adrenal glands, which are hormones that aid our bodies respond to stress, it is considered “The Anti-Stress” Vitamin. It is required to form coenzyme-A (CoA), is crucial in the metabolism as well as synthesis of carbohydrates, proteins and fats, essential for humans and animals for normal physiological functions, growth and reproduction. It has the important function in making haemoglobin, which is responsible for the transport of oxygen throughout our bodies. Pantothenic acid fights infection by building anti-bodies, athletes use it to boost their performance, its supportive in detoxifying harmful chemicals like insecticides and herbicides and is also used to reduce the adverse effects of many types of antibiotics. It encourages the making of red blood cells as well as sex hormones, assists with rheumatoid arthritis and supports with menopausal discomforts.

The name ‘pantothen’ comes from the Greek, meaning “from everywhere”. By eating a varied, healthy and balanced diet, you should be able to get it in your daily diet. In virtually every food you will find small amounts of Pantothenic acid. Good vegetarian sources would include potatoes, porridge, tomatoes, broccoli, lentils, split peas, yogurt, eggnog, avocado, mushroom, sweet potato and with high amounts in whole grains, brown rice, legumes, eggs, cashew nuts and peanuts, royal jelly and wholemeal bread. Cereals are also a very good source for Vitamin B5 if they have been fortified with Pantothenic acid. It is significant that Pantothenic acid is a stable neutral solution, but lost during processing and also destroyed by heat.

Filed under: Health and Diet on January 9th, 2008