Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) is generally safe, but always talk to your doctor before taking any supplement or drug. If you're not getting enough vitamin B5 in your diet, your doctor will probably let you know. Be sure to consult your doctor before taking this or any other supplement if you're pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
Vitamin B5
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1 AnswerA
Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredWhile taking vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), avoid taking large amounts of other vitamins, particularly megavitamins or vitamin therapy. Make sure your doctor is aware of all medications you take, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medications and supplements.
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1 AnswerA
Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredEverybody should ingest a certain amount of vitamin B5 in their diet. Vitamin B5 -- also called pantothenic acid -- 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. Your doctor will recommend a specific dosage if you need to be taking extra vitamin B5.
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredIt's possible for vitamin B5 supplements to be transferred to your fetus or baby through pregnancy or breast milk. It's perfectly safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women to eat foods with vitamin B5, but talk to your doctor before taking vitamin B5 supplements while pregnant or breastfeeding, to be sure that extra vitamin B5 is safe for you and your baby.
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1 AnswerA
Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredLike all B vitamins, vitamin B5, or pantothenic acid, is vital to normal metabolism, including helping your body convert the energy in food into blood sugar, which can then act as fuel for your body. It is also important for the formation of red blood cells in your body and hormones produced by your adrenal glands and is essential to normal growth and development. Eggs, broccoli, milk, yogurt, shellfish, chicken and many other foods are rich in pantothenic acid. Talk to your doctor for more information about pantothenic acid.
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1 AnswerA
Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredThere 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.
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3 AnswersA
Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredSee All 3 AnswersPantothenic 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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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredVitamin 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. -
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answeredPanthenol 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.
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Dr. Howard S. Smith , Pain Medicine, answeredSee All 2 AnswersResearch suggests that people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be partially deficient in pantothenic acid, a water-soluble vitamin. In one placebo-controlled trial, those with RA had less morning stiffness, disability, and pain when they took 2,000 milligrams of pantothenic acid per day. The Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) is 10 milligrams. While many doctors suggest therapeutic doses of pantothenic acid (sometimes as high as 2,000 milligrams for those with rheumatoid arthritis), the studies are not conclusive. Stick with your daily vitamin and mineral tablet to ensure getting adequate amounts of pantothenic acid, along with other necessary nutrients. The best food sources are brewer’s yeast, whole-grain breads and cereals, dried beans, avocados, fish, chicken, liver, nuts (pecans, hazelnuts), peanuts, cauliflower, mushrooms, potatoes, oranges, bananas, milk and cheese, and eggs.