Vitamin B5 - Pantothenic Acid

Question 1

List dietary sources of pantothenic acid

Answer 1

Found in virtually all plant and animal products
Particularly good sources:
- meats, especially liver
- egg yolks
- legumes
- whole grains
- potatoes, mushrooms, broccoli, avocado
- royal jelly

Question 2

Describe the digestion of pantothenic acid

Answer 2

Found in food as:
Free pantothenic acid
Or bound as part of coenzyme A
- CoA is hydrolyzed to free pantothenic acid in the intestines to be absorbed

Question 3

Describe the absorption of pantothenic acid

Answer 3

Absorbed principally in the jejunum

Two mechanisms

1. Sodium dependent active multivitamin transporter
2. Passive diffusion

Question 4

Describe the transport of pantothenic acid

Answer 4

Transported in free form in blood

Higher levels are found within the red blood cells compared to within the plasma/serum

Question 5

Describe the function and mechanism of action of pantothenic acid

Answer 5

As part of CoA molecule
- energy-nutrient metabolism
- synthesis of lipids: cholesterol, bile salts, FAs, steroid hormones, phospholipids, sphingomyelins
Formation of heme group in hemoglobin
Acetylation of proteins, sugars and drugs

Can accelerate healing
- post operatively, in the IV form, can accelerate cell multiplication

Question 6

Describe the metabolism and excretion pantothenic acid

Answer 6

Excreted intact in urine primarily

Small amount excreted in feces

Question 7

Describe consequences and symptoms of deficiency of pantothenic acid

Answer 7

Wildly distributed deficiency is rare and is usually combined with other deficiencies

“Burning feet syndrome”

• numbness of toes and sensation of burning in the feet
• aggravated by heat & ameliorated by cold
• fatigue and weakness
• vomiting
• restlessness, depression and irritability

Glossitis or cheilosis/stomatitis not responding to other B vitamin supplementation

Question 8

Who is at increased risk of deficiency of pantothenic acid?

Answer 8

Adolescents
Alcoholics
Diabetics

Question 9

Describe consequences and symptoms of toxicity of pantothenic acid

Answer 9

None reported with doses of 10mg/d for 6 months

Doses of >100mg/d may increase excretion of niacin

Question 10

Describe the assessment of nutrient status of pantothenic acid

Answer 10

Urinary pantothenate excretion (most reliable)
Blood concentrations
Clinical response to supplementation

Question 11

Discuss some of the therapeutic uses (clinical indications) of pantothenic acid

Answer 11

Prevention of adrenal dysfunction as part of the adrenal support program (not on its own)

Hyperlipidemia (pentethine)