D-Pantothenic Acid is a water-soluble vitamin that is present in all living cells. Vitamin B5 is primarily used in the production of coenzyme A (CoA) and the formation of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
Pantothenic acid is found in high concentrations in the liver and kidney and is important in synthesizing porphyrin, a precursor of heme needed in the production of hemoglobin.
The principle supplemental form of pantothenic acid is synthetically formed D-calcium Pantothenate. Up to 50% of natural Pantothenic acid is lost in food processing from heat.
Functions of Pantothenic acid:
- Component of Coenzyme-A (CoA), which is involved in the metabolism of fatty acids
- CoA is involved in many important biological reactions such as:
- Synthesis of acetylcholine
- Nerve impulse
- Synthesis of heme
- Synthesis of cholesterol
- Synthesis of steroids
- Involved in the citrate cycle
- Involved in the metabolism of fat and sugar to energy.
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