Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)

Silver· human data

Also known as: Pantothenic acid

Needed to make coenzyme A; deficiency is rare and supplementing rarely does much.

Pantothenic acid is required to make coenzyme A, a molecule central to energy metabolism. It is widespread in food — the name means 'from everywhere' — so isolated deficiency is very rare.

Because shortfalls are so uncommon, supplementing generally offers no benefit to energy or skin despite marketing to that effect. It is safe and water-soluble, and best met from ordinary food or a B-complex.

Sources

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Written and reviewed by Mathew Beale, MSc Biotechnology, University of Reading.

Last reviewed: