Vitamin B5: benefits, dosage, contraindications
Other name(s)
Pantothenic acid, Dexpanthenol
Scientific name(s)
D-pantothenic acid
Family or group:
Vitamins
Indications
Scoring methodology
EFSA approval.
Vitamin B5 deficiency ✪✪✪✪✪
Vitamin B5 is widespread in nature and no specific deficiency is known, only in severe malnutrition causing insomnia, nausea, and increased susceptibility to infections. Experimentally induced vitamin B5 deficiency has been associated with reduced growth. In cases of pantothenic acid deficiency, a dose of 5 mg to 10 mg has been used.
Posologie
Orally
5 - 10 mg
calcium pantothenate
Fatigue ✪✪✪✪✪
Pantothenic acid has been studied for its role in athletic performance because it is required for the production of coenzyme A (CoA), which is necessary to transport fatty acyls (via the conjugated fatty acyl-CoA) to the mitochondria so that fats can be used for energy production, and it is used in many other steps of the energy production cycle.
Posologie
Orally
5 mg
Emotional balance ✪✪✪✪✪
Pantothenic acid is essential for controlling stress and the ability to adapt to stressful events, due to its involvement in the synthesis of acetylcholine and because it is essential to adrenal cortex function and the synthesis of steroid hormones.
Posologie
Orally
5 mg
Hypercholesterolemia ✪✪✪✪✪
Several clinical studies confirm that pantethine, a metabolite of pantothenic acid, exerts a lipid-lowering activity. Several studies have shown that taking 300 mg of pantethine three times a day led to a significant reduction in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins) and triglycerides, and an increase in HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoproteins). nn
Posologie
Oral
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 a lipid-lowering activity. Several studies have shown that taking 300 mg of pantethine three times a day led to a significant reduction in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins) and triglycerides, and an increase in HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoproteins). nn
Posologie
Oral
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. Indeed, taking a supplement containing 2200 mg of pantothenic acid, 733.3 mg of L-carnitine, and other B vitamins, in two divided doses, reduced acne. Another study conducted on about 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 regression of lesions in 1 to 2 weeks. Patients suffering from moderately severe acne reported complete control of acne after 8 weeks with only the occasional appearance of a few lesions. The pathology of acne results from a deficiency of 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-CoA. It therefore plays an important role in the oxidation and synthesis of fatty acids and other biological acetylations. Acetyl-CoA 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 a deficiency of pantothenic acid may be involved in the pathogenesis of acne.
Posologie
Orally
2.2 - 10 g
calcium pantothenate
Skin healing ✪✪✪✪✪
Dexpanthenol, an analogue of pantothenic acid, may be effective in treating skin irritation caused by sodium lauryl sulfate. Indeed, the use of an ointment containing 1% to 5% dexpanthenol twice daily for 30 days, after cutaneous exposure to sodium lauryl sulfate, appears to reduce water loss and skin inflammation compared with the control.
Posologie
Topical
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 increases the number of bowel movements in patients with chronic or occasional constipation compared with placebo.
Posologie
Oral
400 mg
dexpanthenol
Rhinitis ✪✪✪✪✪
Clinical research shows that the use of a specific spray containing dexpanthenol, an analogue of pantothenic acid, four times a day for 4 weeks reduces nasal obstruction as well as pharyngitis in patients with anterior dry rhinitis compared with placebo.
Posologie
Intranasal
4 weeks
dexpanthenol
Properties
Essential
Pantothenic acid is a major component of the human body. It is necessary for the intermediate metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids. Dexpanthenol is converted in the body to pantothenic acid. The major 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, release of energy from carbohydrates, synthesis and breakdown of fatty acids, synthesis of sterols, steroid hormones, acetylcholine, and other compounds) and it is primarily known for its role in energy production. Pantothenic acid also appears to be essential for normal epithelial function.
Usages associés
Dermatological effect
A pantothenic acid deficiency may be linked to acne. Studies have shown that pantothenic acid can reduce acne, but those studies used vitamin B5 in combination with other B vitamins and with L-carnitine. The role of pantothenic acid alone is not yet known. On the other hand, supplementation with pantothenic acid and vitamin C appears to improve wound healing, but without changing the time required 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 fatty acid catabolism. Indeed, a pantothenic acid deficiency induced in rats fed a pantothenic acid–poor diet led to fat accumulation. Pantethine, a metabolite of pantothenic acid, has been the subject of several clinical studies because of its significant hypolipidemic activity. According to in vivo research, the mechanism is related to reduced insulin resistance and 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
Energy booster
Pantothenic acid has been studied for its role in athletic performance because it is required for the production of coenzyme A (CoA), which is necessary to transport fatty acyls (via conjugated fatty acyl-CoA) to the mitochondria so that fats can be used for energy production, and it is involved in many other steps of the energy production cycle.
Usages associés
Laxative
At high doses, parenteral dexpanthenol 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, due to its ability to increase cellular adenosine triphosphate, which in turn results in increased levels of free glutathione and strengthens cellular protection against peroxidative damage.
Safe dosage
Adults aged 18 years and older: 5 mg
There are no adverse effects up to 10 grams per day.nnAppropriate topical application of gel, ointment, or drops containing up to 5% dexpanthenol (a derivative of vitamin B5) has been used safely for up to 30 days. nn
Children aged 1 to 10 years: 4 mg
Children aged 11 to 17 years: 5 mg
Topical application is safe for children if applied appropriately.nn
Infants aged 7 to 11 months: 3 mg
Topical application is safe for children if applied appropriately.nn
Interactions
Médicaments
Antibiotics: low interaction
Limited animal data indicate that the gut microbiota synthesizes pantothenic acid. In humans, it is still unknown whether this is an important source of vitamin B5. Antibiotic therapy can lead to changes in the gut microbiota, but supplementation will probably not be necessary.
Precautions
Pregnant women aged 18 years and older: use with caution
The average daily intake level of vitamin B5 for lactating women is 5 mg/day. However, there is no reliable information regarding higher doses. nn
Lactating women aged 18 years and older: use with caution
The average daily intake level of vitamin B5 for lactating women is 7 mg/day. However, there is no reliable information regarding higher doses. nn
Hemophilia: avoid
Dexpanthenol (alcohol analogue of pantothenic acid) may prolong bleeding time. People with hemophilia should be cautious.nn
Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases: use with caution
Dexpanthenol administered as an enema may increase abdominal cramps and worsen symptoms in patients with ulcerative colitis.nn
Contraindications
Intestinal obstruction: contraindicated
Injection of dexpanthenol (alcohol analogue of pantothenic acid) is contraindicated in people with intestinal obstruction.nn
