Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) For Bodily Tissues
Vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid, like all of the vitamins that form the B complex, is essential to the body's ability to use the food it takes in as fuel for its myriad of processes, great and small.
It serves in the daily maintenance and repair of all bodily tissues, from the cellular level up. This makes it essential in fighting the physical damage partially caused by excessive stress.
Vitamin B5 serves many important functions in the nervous system, among which the production of neurotransmitters, which enable the nerves to communicate.
Vitamin B5, acting as a cofactor to other members of the Vitamin B complex and other nutrients, has an important role in the functioning of the adrenal glands and also serves to promote normal growth of the body, due to its role in hormone production throughout the body.
It is used frequently in a variety of cosmetic products because of its important role in the growth and health of the hair and necessity to healthy skin.
Deficiency in Vitamin B5 can have a variety of negative consequences for the body and the mind.
Physical symptoms include digestive problems, dizziness, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, weakened immune system, abdominal pain, increased insulin sensitivity, acne, neurological disorders, muscle weakness and cramps, and slow or retarded growth.
Mental symptoms of Vitamin B5 include personality disorders and change, depression, sleep disturbances and insomnia, which generally makes most other deficiency symptoms feel much worse.
Because these are water-soluble vitamins, they are washed away daily with the urine and thus, the body's supply of these essential nutrients must be renewed daily.
The importance of the Vitamin B complex to mental functioning and physical health cannot be overstated. For optimum performance of the body and mind, including cognitive functions and emotional responses and stability, the standard recommended daily intake levels of these vitamins should be achieved every day.
In general, adults should have about 5mg of Vitamin B5 per day, with women increasing their daily intake to 6mg to 7mg while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Children, depending on size and weight, should have about 2mg to 4mg of Vitamin B5 each day.
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