Pantothenic acid, a vitamin required for normal growth and nerve development. It is a vitamin that is incorporated into another compound used in intermediary metabolism, namely, coenzyme.
It is believes and there is evidence, that pantothenic acid is intimately related to riboflavin in human nutrition.
A pantothenic is consumed as a nutrient and absorbed in the portal vein. Various tissues take up pantothenic acid either by a sodium dependent, active process or by passive diffusion, depending on the tissue.
Deficiencies of this vitamin cause degeneration of nerve tissues with resulting muscular weakness, numbness and malaise.
Scaling skin and dermatitis, diarrhea with bloody stools, and ulceration of the intestine are also deficiency symptoms.
The organs of animals (liver, heart, kidneys) and eggs, whole wheat products and peanuts are excellent sources of Pantothenic acid. The muscular tissue of animals, cheese, beans, cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms and salmons are very good sources of this vitamin.
Pantothenic acid has been given receiving greater interest because of its ability to protect against free radicals.
Evidence exists for pantothenic protecting against free radical induced apoptosis or programmed cell death.
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)
