Pantothenic acid

Pantothenic acid or vitamin B5 is found in every living cell of the body (panto meaning everywhere) and is required by the body daily.

What it does:

Essential for proper digestion, especially the breakdown of fats. Vitamin B5 improves memory and protects the body in times of stress. It also improves the condition of skin, eyes, and hair and acts as an enzyme which participates in the utilisation of energy, obtainable from carbohydrate, fat and protein foods.

Pantothenic acid prevents the onset of premature ageing and has been used effectively in reducing the toxic side effects of antibiotics, protecting the body against cellular damage from radiation.

It is available as a single supplement, in combination with other B vitamins (vitamin B complex) or as part of a multivitamin.

Deficiency:

Low reserves of this vitamin may predispose a person to ulcers in the digestive tract, apathy and depression, instability of heart action, abdominal pain, an increased susceptibility to infection, impaired function of the adrenal glands and nerve disorders with muscle weakness and pins and needles in the hands and feet.

Other vitamins B5 impacts:

Pantothenic acid is especially essential for the utilisation of vitamin B2.

Excellent sources:

Walnuts, hazelnuts, millet, yoghurt, brewers yeast, torula yeast, rice bran, wheat germ, soya beans, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds (and tahini paste), wheat bran, rye.