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Courtney Burrows
KNH413
Matuszak
23 April 2013
Medical Nutrition Therapy Nutrient- Pantothenic Acid
1. What is the nutrient?
Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) is one of eight B vitamins that help the body convert
food into fuel in order to produce energy. B5 also helps the body use fats and
protein and is needed for healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver.
2. What is the RDA/DRI for the nutrient?
There is no specific RDA for Pantothenic acid; however, a daily adequate intake level
has been set at 5 mg per day for healthy adults.
3. How is the nutrient metabolized?
Pantothenic acid is a water-soluble vitamin, and therefore not stored by the body.
However, it is important for our bodies to properly synthesize and metabolize fats,
proteins, and carbohydrates. It is also required to synthesize CoA (Coenxyme-A).
4. What are food sources of the nutrient?
Pantothenic acid gets it’s name from the Greek root pantos, meaning “everywhere,”
because it is found in a wide variety of foods. Fresh meats, vegetables, and whole,
unprocessed grains are good sources of vitamin B5, as the processing process
destroys a large amount of the vitamin. Some of the best sources are corn,
cauliflower, kale, egg yolks, beef (especially organ meats), milk, wheat germ, and
avocado.
5. What disease states alter the nutrients metabolism?
Any condition altering the body’s ability to absorb nutrients via the large intestine
will affect the metabolism of Pantothenic acid.
6. What are the tests or procedures to assess the nutrient level in the body?
Pantothenic acid can be detected in blood assays.
7. What is the drug –nutrient interactions?
ASA and salicylate-containing drugs are reported to cause a decrease in Pantothenic
acid levels in the body. Also, B5 interferes with the absorption and effectiveness of
the antibiotic tetracycline and may increase the effects of a group of drugs called
cholinesterase inhibitors, which are used to treat Alzheimer’s.
8. How is the nutrient measured?
Pantothenic acid is measure in milligrams.
9. What is the Upper Tolerable Limits?
There are no upper tolerable limits set for Pantothenic acid. This vitamin is watersoluble and therefore, excess amounts are excreted by the body. However,
excessive doses provided by supplements can produce mild gastrointestinal side
effects, such as diarrhea and discomfort.
10. What are the physical signs of deficiency?
Pantothenic acid is so widely available in almost every food, and therefore,
deficiency is rarely a problem in healthy people. Deficiency occurs only in sever
malnutrition cases and clinical symptoms are variable, but include burning
sensations in the feet, weakness, fatigue, insomnia, depression, vomiting, and low
blood sugar.
11. What are physical signs of toxicity?
There are no physical signs of toxicity because Pantothenic acid is a water-soluble
vitamin and excess amounts are excreted in the urine. However, an excessive intake has
been shown to cause gastrointestinal discomfort.
References
U.S. National Library of Medicine. "Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5)." MedLine Plus. U.S.
National Library of Medicine, 26 Dec. 2012. Web. 19 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/853.html>.
"Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)." University of Maryland Medical Center. University of
Maryland Medical Center, 2011. Web. 19 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/vitamin-b5-000336.htm>.