OTC Pearl of the Day: Vitamin B5

OTC/Lifestyle Pearl of the Day: Vitamin B5 

Indication: Vitamin B5, also called pantothenic acid, is necessary for making blood cells and it helps you convert the food you eat into energy.

Insight:

• Vitamin B5 can be obtained from a good diet of broccoli, cabbage, white and sweet potatoes, whole-grain cereals, mushrooms, nuts, beans, peas, lentils, meats, and poultry.
• Daily allowance for vitamin B5 may vary by age and could range from 1.7 mg for infants 5 mg for adults, and 7 mg for pregnant and breast-feeding patients.
• Symptoms of vitamin B5 deficiency include headache, fatigue, irritability, impaired muscle coordination, and gastrointestinal problems.
• Vitamin B5, also called pantothenic acid, is one of 8 B vitamins.
• All B vitamins are water-soluble, meaning that the body does not store them.
• In addition to playing a role in the breakdown of fats and carbohydrates for energy, vitamin B5 is critical in the manufacturing of red blood cells, as well as sex- and stress-related hormones produced in the adrenal glands—small glands that sit atop the kidneys.
• Vitamin B5 is also important in maintaining a healthy digestive tract and it helps the body use other vitamins, particularly B2 (also called riboflavin).
• It is sometimes called the "anti-stress" vitamin, but there is no concrete evidence showing that it helps the body withstand stress.
• Interactions: Vitamin B5 may interact with some antibiotics, such as tetracycline, as well as other medications for treating Alzheimer disease, such as donepezil, nemantin, galantamine, and rivastigmine.

Sources:

• Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) (healthline.com)
• Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) Information | Mount Sinai - New York