Pantothenic Acid

Deficiency
SIGNS, SYMPTOMS, AND
HOW ITS DIAGNOSED

October 5, 2012. NatrualHealthSupply.com

Signs & Symptoms of Deficiency

Deficiency is very rare & not well documented.
First implicated in the 1940s.
Associated with burning feet syndrome from

malnourished prisoners of war.

Does not occur in isolation, but is associated in

conjunction with other nutrient deficiencies.

Symptoms

Animal experiments conducted in

the 1940s:

Fatigue
Headaches
Insomia

Abdominal

cramps
Nausea
Vomiting
Muscle cramps
Impaired

coordination

Studies in rats have shown pantothenic

acid deficiency to show signs of greying
in the fur of black and brown rats; also
dermatitis in chickens.
Became known as the anti-grey and
anti-dermatitis vitamin.

Most extensive studies done on

humans took place in the 1950s

Many of the symptoms mirrored those

studies from animals

Why Signs and Symptoms Occur

Roles in Energy Production
Pantothenate to Coenzyme A for energy

1. Fatigue
2. Fainting
3. Elevated Heart Rate
4. Hemoglobin Production (porphyrins)
Synthesis of Fat, Cholesterol, Phospholipids, Steroid
Hormones
P.A. = LDL and triglycerides, HDL

Why Signs and Symptoms Occur

Inability to Cope with Stress
Dopamine and Serotonin Drop
Symptoms:
1. Irritability
2. Premature Graying of Hair
3. Anxiety, Apathy
4. Susceptibility to Infection
5. Insomnia due to cortisol levels
Other Notable Signs and Symptoms
Hypoglycemia
Burning Feet Syndrome
Rheumatoid Arthritis
October 5, 2010. howstuff works.com; buzzle.com

Occurrence: Populations
Pantothenic Acid deficiency is very rare, as it is widespread in many foods
and little is lost during cooking.
Populations at Risk of a Deficiency
o People with inadequate intake (elderly, alcoholics and eating disorders,
malnourished)
o People with impaired absorption, such as inflammatory bowel diseases
o Teenagers, due to a fast food diet high in sugar and refined flours low in
Vitamin B
o Diabetics, increased excretion*
*Hatano M, Hodges RE, Evans TC, Hagemann RF, Leeper DB, Bean WB, Krehl WA. Urinary Excretion of Pantothenic Acid by diabetic patients and by Alloxan-Diabetic
Rats. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Vol 20:9, Sept 1967: 960-967.

Occurrence: Past and Present

World War II prisoners in Japan, Burma and Phillipines;
experienced numbness, burning and tingling in their feet (burning
feet) which disappeared with pantothenic acid supplementation.*
Homopantothenate: Induced Pantothenic Acid Deficiency
a homologue of pantothenic acid, and a pantothenic acid
antagonist
Treatment of Alzhemiers in Japan
Lead to abnormal brain function due to livers inability to
eliminate toxins
Pantothenic Acid supplementation reversed this effect

* Glusman, M. The syndrome of burning feet (nutritional melalgia) as a manifestation of nutritional deficiency. Am. J. Med., 3 1947: 211-223.

Interaction with other Vitamins

B12 plays a role in conversion of PA into its active form

(Coenzyme-A); without B12, PA metabolism is impacted

and consequently, fat metabolism.
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) was shown to lessen the severity

of symptoms due to Pantothenic acid deficiency. (Rats

study)
PA deficiency occurs often in conjunction with other B

vitamins.
Yacowitz H, Norris, LC, Heuser GF. Evidence for an interrelationship between Vitamin B12 and Pantothenic Acid. The
Journal of Biological Chemistry. Vol 192 (1951): 141-146.
Kelly, Gregory. Pantothenic Acid. Alternative Medicine Review. Vol 16(2011). 263-273.

 Urinary pantothenate excretion:

Assessment
Measures

Pantothenic
Acid
(PaA)Status

< 1mg/day indicative of poor status

Whole Blood pantothenic acid

concentrations:
<100mg/dL indicative
of poor status

Gropper SS, Smith JL, Groff JL.The Water-soluble Vitamins. In: Advanced Nutrition and
Human Metabolism. 5th edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cenage Learning; 2009: 338342.
Image. http://www.phillyburbs.com/blogs/hot_pennsyltucky_mess/scams-clean-urineswitcheroo-dirty-poker/article_f98bda50-5102-11e1-955d-001a4bcf6878.html?
mode=image&photo=0. Accessed Oct 1st, 2012.

Functional Assay
High Performance Liquid Chromatography
determination of CoA, dephospho-CoA, and
acetyl-CoA .
Lactobacillus plantarum ATTC 8014 Assay

Measures bound and free forms of PaA

Shibata K, Nakai T, Fukuwatari T. Simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatography determination of coenzyme A, dephosphocoenzyme A, and acetyl-coenzyme A in normal and pantothenic acid-deficient rats. Anal Biochem 2012;403(2):151-155. doi:
10.1016/j.ab.2012.08.010. Accessed Oct 1 st, 2012.

Ways to Prevent a Pantothenic Acid Deficiency

Eat a well balanced diet (important for preventing

a deficiency in all vitamins)

Take a dietary supplement - 5-10 mg
Eat whole foods (B5 is readily available
Limit use of acids (vinegar) and alkalis (baking
soda) with foods that contain pantothenic acid
Do not use tetracycline antibiotics over a long
period of time

The Perfect Storm

Pantothenic Acid deficiency
Elderly individual (low nutrient intake)

Alcoholic (low nutrient intake + Nutrient absorption

inhibition)

Diabetes mellitus (increased vitamin excretion in urine)

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (impaired absorption of vitamin

in the gut)