Vitamin B5
Chemical name:
Pantothenic acid
Description
Vitamin B5 is not synthesized by the body and must therefore be provided by the diet. The recommended daily intake of vitamin B5 is 5 mg for adults and 7 mg for people over 75 years of age.
It is found, in varying amounts, in a very large number of foods, the main sources being offal (calf's liver: 6.2 mg/100 g) and egg yolk (3.2 mg/100 g).
The main derivative of vitamin B5 is coenzyme A, which is necessary for the synthesis of fatty acids within cells, an essential function that explains the many roles played by this vitamin.
The benefits
- In addition to its contribution to energy metabolism, pantothenic acid contributes to mental performance and psychological stability, to the reduction of fatigue, to the synthesis and metabolism of steroid hormones, as well as of vitamin D and certain neurotransmitters.
- Although vitamin B5 deficiencies are rare, some risk groups may have more or less pronounced deficiencies that lead to headaches, digestive disorders and, in some cases, can lead to depression.
