B Vitamin Trivia [Part Seven] B5 or Pantothenic acid Deficiency
Pantothenic acid / Pantethine Deficiency [Vitamin B5]
~Fatigue
Do you have chronic Fatigue?
Do you have trouble losing weight?
~Autoimmune problems and Arthritis
Are seasonal allergies a problem?
Do you have shooting pains in your feet?
Is joint pain an ongoing problem?
Do you have RA, Lupus or Psoriasis?
Are you taking prednisone or another strong medication?
Are you relying on Anti-inflammatory medication to get through your routine?
Do you have Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s disease?
Been diagnosed with Gout?
Uric acid level been elevated?
[Calcium pantothenate breaks down excess uric acid]
~Heart Disease Risk
Is your cholesterol off the charts?
Has diet alone not improved you cholesterol and triglyceride numbers?
Has cholesterol medication made you sick?
Do you worry about potential drug side effects?
[Pantethine can work as well as cholesterol meds without toxicity]
~Adrenal Stress/Allergies and Skin problems
Do you have more allergies than you used to?
Is acne suddenly a problem again?
Is your hair turning gray?
Do you have slow healing wounds?
Do you find daily stress is getting you down?
……….
If any of these questions have you nodding then you need to learn about the benefits of Pantothenic acid and its active form Pantethine [actually two pantothenic molecules joined together].
Adrenal Health
The adrenal glands produce sex hormones [testosterone,estrogen progesterone etc], stress hormones [cortisone and adrenaline] and the fluid balancing aldosterone.
If Pantothenic acid/Pantethine is lacking the adrenal glands don’t function properly.
Interesting side note: in Pantothenic acid deficient mice there is loss of hair color [graying or white hair].
Heart disease
Dozens of studies show B5 can help improve cholesterol levels.
In one study [Pantethine 900 mg per day] there was a reduction of total cholesterol by 19%, 21% drop in LDL, 23% increase in the beneficial HDL and a 23% decrease in triglycerides.
From Dr Atkin’s Vita-Nutrient Solution “Pantethine protects the heart and arteries in other ways. It encourages the production of enzymes that help break down blood fats and contributes to vitamin E’s action against cholesterol buildup. Pantethine is one of the few nutrients that increases the amount of clot-busting omega-3 fatty acids and reduces clot-promoting fats in cell membranes.”
Autoimmune Disorders
Those with allergies, asthma, lupus, psoriasis as well as RA can benefit from Pantethine and pantothenic acid.
Arthritis patients can reduce their reliance on strong medications like prednisone and possibly some of the stronger “chemotherapy” agents that are so popular today.
Pantethine/pantothenic acid should be only a part of a complete “Vita-Nutrient Approach” to these serious conditions.
Often times medications are required to control symptoms and prevent permanent damage, but a “diet first” philosophy makes the most sense.
Crohn’s disease and Colitis
“Normal” levels pantothenic acid in the diet and subsequently the blood stream do not provide adequate levels in the intestinal lining. However, taking Pantethine along with Pantothenic acid [900 mg of each] can give relief of inflammation and symptoms in a week in many people with these conditions.
Pantothenic acid alone can be beneficial to Acne, gout, weight loss and symptoms of burning food syndrome.
The typical B Complex – B100 contains 100mg of calcium pantothenate.
For Cholesterol and Heart disease, Colitis and Crohn’s disease and other Autoimmune disorders the more expensive Pantethine is recommended.
I usually recommend taking a B complex vitamn like B100 – 1-2 pills am and pm.
Food sources are inadequate to maintain optimal levels of Pantethine in the body.
Dietary sources include whole grains, legumes, eggs, avocado, meat and liver. However, on close examination these foods contain less than one milligram per serving !!!
It is important to take the B vitamins together; as in a B Complex supplement, “B100” or “B150” are common formulations.
It is best to take the B’s twice a day.
Sugar depletes the B vitamins.
Studies show it is difficult to get enough B vitamins from foods alone.
Also, take a quality Multiple vitamin/mineral supplement [ask for a product with chelated minerals]
Feel free to message me or leave a comment or concern. [Or if you have a topic that interests you]