PANTOTHENICACID (VITAMIN B 5) (Systemic)?

Other commonly used names are vitamin B5 and calcium pantothenate.

Generic name product may also be available in the U.S.

? Not commercially available in Canada.

Category

• Nutritional supplement, vitamin

Description

Vitamins (VYE-ta-mins) are compoundsthat you must have for growth and health. Theyare needed in only small amounts and are usually available in the foods thatyou eat. Pantothenic acid (pan-toh-THEN-ikAS-id) (vitamin B ₅) is neededfor the breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

No problems have been found that are due to a lack of pantothenic acidalone. However, a lack of one B vitamin usually goes along with a lack ofothers, so pantothenic acid is often included in B complex products.

Claims that pantothenic acid is effective for treatment of nerve damage,breathing problems, itching and other skin problems, and poisoning with someother drugs; for getting rid of or preventing gray hair; for preventing arthritis,allergies, and birth defects; or for improving mental ability have not beenproven.

This vitamin is available without a prescription in the following dosageforms:

Oral
• Calcium pantothenate
  • Tablets (U.S.)
• Pantothenic acid
  • Capsules (U.S.)
  • Oral solution (U.S.)
  • Tablets (U.S.)
  • Extended-release tablets (U.S.)

Importance of Diet

Pantothenic acid is found in various foods including peas and beans (exceptgreen beans), lean meat, poultry, fish, and whole-grain cereals. Little pantothenicacid is lost from foods with ordinary cooking.

Vitamins alone will not take the place of a good diet and will not provideenergy. Your body also needs other substances found in food?protein,minerals, carbohydrates, and fat.

The daily amount of pantothenic acid needed is defined in several differentways.

For U.S.?
• Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are the amount of vitaminsand minerals needed to provide for adequate nutrition in most healthy persons.RDAs for a given nutrient may vary depending on a person's age, sex, and physicalcondition (e.g., pregnancy).
• Daily Values (DVs) for nutrients are used on food and dietary supplementlabels to indicate the percent of the recommended daily amount of each nutrientthat a serving provides. DVs replace the previous designation of United StatesRecommended Daily Allowances (USRDAs).

For Canada?
• Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNIs) are used to determine the amountsof vitamins, minerals, and protein needed to provide adequate nutrition andlessen the risk of chronic disease.

Because lack of pantothenic acid is so rare, there is no RDA or RNI forthis vitamin. The following daily intakes are thought to be plenty for mostindividuals:

• Infants and children?
  • Birth to 3 years of age: 2 to 3 milligrams (mg).
  • 4 to 6 years of age: 3 to 4 mg.
  • 7 to 10 years of age: 4 to 5 mg.
• Adolescents and adults?4 to 7 mg.

Before Using This Dietary Supplement

If you are taking this dietary supplement without a prescription, carefullyread and follow any precautions on the label. For pantothenic acid, the followingshould be considered:

Allergies?Tell your health care professional if you are allergicto any substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy?It is especially important that you are receivingenough vitamins when you become pregnant and that you continue to receivethe right amount of vitamins throughout your pregnancy. The healthy growthand development of the fetus depend on a steady supply of nutrients from themother. However, taking large amounts of a nutritional supplement during pregnancymay be harmful to the mother and/or fetus and should be avoided.

Breast-feeding?It is especially important that you receive theright amounts of vitamins so that your baby will also get the vitamins neededto grow properly. However, taking large amounts of a nutritional supplementwhile breast-feeding may be harmful to the mother and/or baby and should beavoided.

Children?Problems in children have not been reported withintake of normal daily recommended amounts.

Older adults?Problems in older adults have not been reported withintake of normal daily recommended amounts.

Other medicines or dietary supplements?Although certain medicines or dietary supplements should not be used togetherat all, in other cases two different medicines or dietary supplements maybe used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, yourhealth care professional may want to change the dose, or other precautionsmay be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking anyother prescription, nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine, ordietary supplements.

Proper Use of This Dietary Supplement

Dosing?The amount of pantothenic acid needed to meetnormal daily recommended intakes will be different for different individuals.The following information includes only the average amounts of pantothenicacid.

• For oral dosage forms (capsules, tablets,oral solution):
  • To prevent deficiency, the amount taken by mouth is based on normaldaily recommended intakes:
    • Adults and teenagers?4 to 7 milligrams (mg) per day.
    • Children 7 to 10 years of age?4 to 5 mg per day.
    • Children 4 to 6 years of age?3 to 4 mg per day.
    • Children birth to 3 years of age?2 to 3 mg per day.
  • To treat deficiency:
    • Adults, teenagers, and children?Treatment dose is determinedby prescriber for each individual based on severity of deficiency.

Missed dose?If you miss taking a vitamin for one or more daysthere is no cause for concern, since it takes some time for your body to becomeseriously low in vitamins. However, if your health care professional has recommendedthat you take this vitamin, try to remember to take it as directed every day.

Storage?To store this dietary supplement:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in otherdamp places. Heat or moisture may cause the dietary supplement to break down.
• Do not keep outdated dietary supplements or those no longer needed.Be sure that any discarded dietary supplement is out of the reach of children.

Side Effects of This Dietary Supplement

Along with its needed effects, a dietary supplement may cause some unwantedeffects. Although pantothenic acid does not usually cause any side effects,check with your health care professional if you notice any unusual effectswhile you are taking it.