A water-soluble B vitamin found in most foods in small amounts.
Why it’s used: Contributes to normal mental performance and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
Vitamin B5, or pantothenic acid, is a water-soluble B vitamin found in varying amounts in almost all vegetables, wholegrain foods and meats. Particularly good sources include chicken, beef, eggs, mushrooms and avocado, and some breakfast cereals are fortified with it. Because it is so widespread, most people get all they need from their daily diet, but the body cannot store it, so a regular supply matters.
Pantothenic acid has several functions, including helping the body release energy from food. It contributes to normal mental performance and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, which is why it usually sits alongside the other B vitamins in B-complex and energy formulas.
On labels you will usually see calcium pantothenate, a stable form of the vitamin, or pantethine. Amounts are listed in milligrams (mg), and you will find pantothenic acid in multivitamins, B-complex products and some single-nutrient supplements. If you take a multivitamin and a separate B-complex, the amounts add together, so check the combined total against NHS guidance.
2 findings behind this ingredient. Hover a card for the detail and the source.
120 adults on a lifestyle diet took pantethine (600 mg/day, then 900 mg/day) or placebo for 16 weeks. LDL cholesterol fell by 4% versus placebo.
32 adults took pantethine (600 mg/day, then 900 mg/day) or placebo for 16 weeks. LDL cholesterol fell by 11% with pantethine and rose 3% with placebo.
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Pantothenic acid helps the body release energy from food. It contributes to normal mental performance and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. It is found in almost all vegetables, wholegrains and meats, so most people get enough from a varied diet.
Calcium pantothenate is the form of vitamin B5 most often used in supplements. It is a stable salt of pantothenic acid, which makes it practical for tablets and capsules. Another form you may see on labels is pantethine.
There is no UK daily requirement because the vitamin is so common in food. The NHS says 200mg or less a day from supplements is unlikely to cause any harm. Very high doses, around 10,000mg a day, can upset the stomach.
Information only, not medical advice. If you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, speak to your GP or pharmacist first.
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