Vitamin B5 is also known as pantothenic acid and performs essential functions in the body and is involved in the conversion to coenzyme A, which is considered the active form of vitamin B5.
Mode of action of vitamin B5
Vitamin B5 is found in many different foods. Animal foods in particular show high levels of vitamin B5. In plant foods, vitamin B5 is found in green plants, oranges and melons, and tomatoes also provide vitamin B5.
Vitamin B5 is not one of the vitamins that are considered essential vitamins. Healthy adrenal function and heartbeat, healthy lung function and healthy digestion are all affected by vitamin B5. Vitamin B5 assumes an anti-stress effect through its positive influence on the functions of the adrenal glands.
Vitamin B5 can be taken from food only as bound vitamin, which is released by further biochemical processes in the body. It is then available to the organism as pantothenic acid or as pantetheine. Vitamin B5 is centrally involved in intermediary metabolism, also known as intermediate metabolism. Here it acts as an enzyme complex and main component of coenzyme A in the conversion or buildup of fatty acids.
Importance
In its action, vitamin B5 supports all processes that transmit various stimuli from nerves to other nerves. It acts on serotonin, on carbohydrates, on hemoglobin, on cholesterol and on vitamins A and D.
Pantothenic acid, discovered in 1931, is affected by alcohol and diabetes. Intestinal diseases or kidney diseases also reduce vitamin B5. If there is an overall vitamin B deficiency, vitamin B5 is also reduced.
The result is depression and fatigue, anemia and insomnia, which can be caused by a vitamin B5 deficiency. Vitamin B5 also affects the immune system. A deficiency of vitamin B5 leads to susceptibility to infections and to pain in the muscles or in the stomach.
Vitamin B5 continues to play an important role in maintaining healthy skin. It can be applied externally as a wound healer. Sunburn and skin abrasions or burns as well as the entire wound healing after operations are positively influenced by vitamin B5.
The health value of vitamin B5 can be seen in its effects in cases of deficiency symptoms. Such deficiency symptoms are also experienced as disadvantageous during sports. Those who actively participate in sports need vitamin B5 in sufficient quantities to be able to perform. The heart muscle and kidneys benefit from vitamin B5.
Occurrence in food
Vitamin B5 is found in many different foods. Animal foods in particular show high levels of vitamin B5. In addition to liver and offal, pork and beef, the hen’s egg, milk and herring also offer a lot of vitamin B5.
There is a lot of vitamin B5 in royal jelly and the eggs of stockfish. In the vegetable sector, vitamin B5 is found in green plants, oranges and melons, and the tomato also provides vitamin B5. Accordingly, those who eat a balanced diet take enough vitamin B5.
Vitamin B5 is water soluble and highly sensitive to heat exposure and preservation processes, and it also decreases when frozen. In these cases, the amount of vitamin B5 in foods can decrease by as much as 70 percent.
Orally supplied vitamin B5 is broken down in the gastrointestinal tract to exert its effect as pantothenic acid as well as phosphoric acid ester compounds. From the intestine, vitamin B5 is transported to the parts of the body that need it. These include the heart muscle, kidneys, and adrenal glands and liver.
