Vitamin B5

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• QHow much vitamin B5 should I take to help my cholesterol levels?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  I recommend taking a 300 mg of vitamin B5 (panothenic acid) to decrease LDL "bad" cholesterol and raise HDL "good" cholesterol. No side effects have been seen yet in people taking this daily dosage of vitamin B5.

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• QWhy is Panthenol (vitamin B5) useful in cosmetics?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  Panthenol is added to both moisturizers and hair care products for its ability to hold and attract water. In hair products, panthenol works to increase the flexibility of hair, making it feel softer and more manageable.

• QWhat is the role of vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) in my body?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), along with other B vitamins, is essential to normal metabolism. It helps your body make energy from the food you eat and is vital for normal growth and development. Pantothenic acid is also involved in the production of hormones and cholesterol in the body. It's present in many foods including eggs, milk, yeast, whole grains, poultry, potatoes and legumes. Deficiencies of pantothenic acid are rare, but taking too much pantothenic acid in supplement form may cause diarrhea. Talk to your doctor for more information about this and other vitamins.

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• QWhat does pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) deficiency cause?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  A deficiency in pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) is rare. When it does occur, it may cause symptoms including fatigue, insomnia, depression, irritability, stomach upset, burning feet and upper respiratory infections. Pantothenic acid is essential to normal metabolism and helps your body use the food you eat for energy. It is also involved in the production of certain hormones and cholesterol.
  
  The Institute of Medicine Food and Nutrition Board has said that people ages 14 and older should consume about 5 milligrams (mg) of pantothenic acid per day for good health. This is easy to achieve if you eat a well-rounded diet because pantothenic acid is widely available in foods including eggs, poultry, milk, whole grains, legumes, potatoes and many other products. Talk to your doctor for more information about pantothenic acid.
  

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• QWhat foods are good sources of pantothenic acid, or vitamin B5?

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  A Dr. Michael T. Murray, ND , Naturopathic Medicine, answered

  Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) is found in highest concentrations in liver and other organ meats, milk, fish, and poultry. Good plant sources of pantothenic acid include whole grains, legumes, broccoli, cauliflower, and nuts. There is no official RDA for pantothenic acid, but a daily intake of four to seven milligrams is believed to be adequate.

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• QWhat is vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Vitamin B5 -- also called pantothenic acid -- is a vitamin found naturally in peas, beans, whole grains, meat and fish. This vitamin is important for aiding in the release of energy by cells and maintaining a healthy nervous system. Some people do not get enough of this vitamin in their diets and require a vitamin B5 supplement. You do not need a prescription to take a pantothenic acid supplement, which you ingest orally. It is relatively safe to take pantothenic acid and it is important for a complete and healthy diet.
   
• QWhat is vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) used for?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) is used in the body to help cells release energy and to maintain a healthy nervous system. This vitamin also helps break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats that are found in other foods in the diet. Most people absorb this vitamin naturally in their diets. People who do not get enough vitamin B5 through food will need to take a vitamin B5 supplement to treat the deficiency.
  
  
• QHow does vitamin B5 work?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid, is absorbed by the body through the foods that you eat.
  
  When you eat beans, peas, whole grains, meat, and fish, your body processes the vitamin B5 that is found in those foods. If you do not eat enough of these foods, you will have to take vitamin B5 supplements. These supplements are orally ingested, and the body then uses them as it would the naturally found vitamin.
• QAre there any risks in taking vitamin B5?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  There are no reported side effects from taking vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), though it is possible to have an allergic reaction. If you experience difficulty breathing, hives or facial swelling, contact a healthcare professional immediately. Vitamin B5 can be transferred to a fetus during pregnancy or to a nursing baby through breast milk. Talk to your doctor before taking pantothenic acid supplements while pregnant or breastfeeding.
  
  
• QWhat should I know before taking vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  If you get enough vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) in your diet, you do not need to take additional supplements. When taking pantothenic acid you should not take other vitamins in large doses, such as megavitamins or vitamin therapy. Talk to your doctor before taking pantothenic acid if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.