Understanding Pantothenic Acid

Pantothenic acid is also called vitamin B5. It is an essential vitamin and helps make red blood cells and stress hormones! Many foods contain vitamin B5, such as broccoli, whole-grain cereal, potatoes, and cabbage. Most individuals over the age of fourteen need a daily intake of five milligrams. However, pregnant and breastfeeding women need more than this. They must have a daily intake of seven milligrams! The good news is that vitamin B5 deficiencies are rare in the United States. In most cases, only malnourished individuals deal with one.

Of course, patients take vitamin B5 supplements to treat a deficiency. Many patients will receive a prescription, though they are also available over-the-counter. Pantothenic acid supplements for acne are also popular! Some patients report that they are great supplements for adrenal gland health. Others say that they are great for arthritis pain relief! However, patients must understand how this vitamin works first. This ensures that these supplements are safe and that they buy the best vitamin B5 supplements for their health needs.

How It Works

Pantothenic acid is a water-soluble vitamin! It is key in the synthesis of coenzyme A. This enzyme is a significant part of the body's citric acid cycle. It helps break down lipids, carbohydrates, and other nutrients, turning them into energy that the body can then use! Vitamin B5 supplements have pantothenol in them. The body converts this into pantothenic acid! Quite a few of these supplements also have calcium pantothenate. This salt protects the potency of the supplement! It also helps reduce deterioration from acid or heat.

Continue reading to learn about the amazing uses for vitamin B5 supplements next.

Uses

As mentioned, pantothenic acid is vitamin B5. Thus, like other B-vitamins, it makes energy from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. It is also essential for an individual's eye, hair, and skin health. This vitamin also supports the nervous system and liver function! Individuals need it for producing red blood cells and hormones in the adrenal glands. Of course, the major use is to take vitamin B5 supplements to correct a deficiency in this vitamin. These supplements will relieve symptoms such as irritability, fatigue, and headaches!

There are other uses for vitamin B5 supplements as well. Many patients take pantothenic acid to treat conditions such as leg cramps, low blood pressure, and allergies. It also treats acne, pink eye, and dermatitis! These supplements are also treatments for premenstrual syndrome and obesity. Some say they improve wound healing too. However, reports indicate that vitamin B5 supplements have not been proven effective at treating these concerns. Thus, patients need to ask their doctor about proven treatments first!

Discover the side effects of this supplement next.

Side Effects

Of course, pantothenic acid has side effects! The most common is an upset stomach. Other frequent ones include diarrhea, headaches, constipation, nausea, dizziness, and a sore throat. Abdominal pain is another common side effect! Some patients deal with urinary tract infections or new-onset diabetes when they take these supplements. Additional side effects are muscle pain, a lack of energy, and joint pain.

Some patients will see changes in the results of blood tests due to these supplements. Two examples are increased alanine transaminase and increased creatine phosphokinase! These supplements also cause flu-like symptoms and pancreatitis, though this only happens in some patients. Rare side effects include muscle wasting, jaundice, and muscle disease. Patients must report these side effects to their doctor quickly! This is essential when common side effects persist. They need urgent attention for severe diarrhea and vomiting as well!

Uncover the precautions for these supplements next.

Precautions

Patients need to talk to their doctor before taking vitamin B5 supplements! This includes telling them about any medications they take as well as their health history. Talking to a doctor first is particularly necessary for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Their doctor must determine if these supplements are safe for their needs. Allergies also cause an issue in some cases. Patients with allergies must take these supplements with caution! It is also vital for patients who have had allergic reactions to medicines or food to tell their doctor about them first.

Other precautions include asking about the safest effective dose and having regular blood tests. Blood test results help determine when patients must stop taking these supplements! Of course, patients need to consult their doctor before changing their dose or stopping these supplements. Patients need to take vitamin B5 supplements with water and food. This reduces the risk of an upset stomach!

Reveal the medication interactions next.

Medication Interactions

Vitamin B5 supplements do not have any severe medication interactions. However, they do have moderate interactions! For instance, these supplements interact with certain antibiotics. Three examples are azithromycin, erythromycin, and clarithromycin. Vitamin B5 supplements also have over sixty mild medication interactions.

These interactions are why patients must talk to their doctor first! They have to give their doctor an updated list of all their current prescriptions, supplements, and over-the-counter medications. Their doctor will check for interactions with vitamin B5 supplements on this list! Pharmacists need to double-check this list as well. This lowers the risk of interactions and side effects.