Vitamin B5

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Vitamin B5 - Food Sources and Deficiency Symptoms

Vitamin B5 is also known as Pantothenic acid , which is a water- soluble vitamin required to sustain life. Pantothenic acid is needed to form coenzyme-A. Vitamin B5, helps in the metabolism and synthesis of carbohydrates , proteins , and fats.

Vitamin B5 plays an important role in the secretion of hormones, such as cortisone because of the role it plays in supporting the adrenal gland. These hormones assist the metabolism, help to fight allergies and are beneficial in the maintenance of healthy skin, muscles and nerves.

Vitamin B5, is also helpful to fight against wrinkles as well as graying of the hair. It is a water soluble vitamin or sometimes called anti-stress vitamin. It is required for the formation of anti-bodies i.e. immune system. Vitamin B5 helps to produce neurotransmitters required for proper nerve and muscle performance. A deficiency of Pantothenic acid may cause fatigue, psoriasis, and headache. Vitamin B5 is often used to treat the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis; swelling, pain, and stiffness.

Function of Vitamin B5:

The important functions of vitamin B5 are as:-

• Vitamin B5 plays an important role in helping release energy from sugars, starches, and fats.

• Vitamin B5 is important for releasing energy stored as fat, it is equally important for the creation of fat. Two basic types of fats - fatty acids and cholesterol - both require the CoA form of B5 for their synthesis.

• Sometimes it is important for the body to make small chemical changes in the shape of cell proteins, thus vitamin B5 is useed in this case.

• They are essential for the cell metabolism.

• They are very helpful in the cholesterol metabolism.

Deficiency of vitamin B5:

Any deficiency of Vitamin B5 interferes with our capacity to utilise fat. Vitamin B5 also plays an important role in energy production and assists adrenal function.

People with an increased risk of Vitamin B5 deficiency include

• Drinkers are more prone to get deficient in vitamin B5.

• Deficiency of vitamin B5, can be seen in the womens, who are on the pill.

• People on antibiotics

• Deficiency of vitamin B5, can be seen in peoples, who are on sleeping pills.

• People who drink a lot of caffeine e.g. from coffee, tea or soft drinks.

In the unlikely event of a Vitamin B5 deficiency, those affected may have the following symptoms: overall weakness, muscle cramping, insomnia and fatigue, intestinal problems such as water retention, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, a low resistance to infection or a tingling sensation in the extremities.

With Vitamin B5 in short supply symptoms like fatigue, headaches, nausea, tingling in the hands, depression, personality changes and cardiac instability have been reported.

Vitamin B5 Sources:

Pantothenic Acid is found in almost all other unprocessed foods. The best sources of this vitamin are eggs, yeast, poultry, meat, fish, liver, milk, sunflower seeds, soya beans and bean flour, peas, peanuts, peanut butter, legumes, broccoli, collard greens, bananas, oranges, mushrooms, whole grain products and wheat germ.