Pantothenic Acid
Supplement Forms/Alternate Names:
• Calcium pantothenate; Pantothenate; Vitamin B5
Introduction
Pantothenic acid is vitamin B5. The body needs these compounds to break down carbs and fats. Pantothenic acid has been used to promote heart and liver health. It has also been used to lower cholesterol and ease swelling in the joints. Pantothenic acid can be taken as a pill or powder. It can also be applied to the skin.
Dosages5 milligrams a day
What Research Shows
May Be Effective
- Acute rhinitis treated with decongestant sprays—may increase effectiveness and reduce duration of illness D1
- Childhood atopic dermatitis—may provide benefit when used as maintenance treatment B1
- Post-tonsillectomy pain and wound healing—may quicken wound healing process and decrease pain in children D1
May Not Be Effective
- Denture sores—may not help with healing C1
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Safety Notes
It is likely safe to take pantothenic acid in recommended daily doses for a short time. Not enough studies have been done to say whether larger doses are safe to take for a long period. It is also not known whether it is safe to take by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.E1
Interactions
Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse.
References [ + ]
A. Acute Rhinitis Treated with Decongestant Sprays
A1. Mösges R, Shah-Hosseini K, et al. Dexpanthenol: An Overview of its Contribution to Symptom Relief in Acute Rhinitis Treated with Decongestant Nasal Sprays. Adv Ther. 2017 Aug;34(8):1850-1858.
B. Childhood Atopic Dermatitis
B1. Stettler H, Kurka P, et al. A new topical panthenol-containing emollient for maintenance treatment of childhood atopic dermatitis: results from a multicenter prospective study. J Dermatolog Treat. 2017 Dec;28(8):774-779.
C. Denture Sores
C1. Bural C, Güven MÇ, et al. Effect of Over-the-Counter Topical Agents on Denture-Induced Traumatic Lesions: A Clinical Study. Int J Prosthodont. 2018 Sep/Oct;31(5):481-484.
D. Post-Tonsillectomy Pain and Wound Healing
D1. Celebi S, Tepe C, et al. Efficacy of dexpanthenol for pediatric post-tonsillectomy pain and wound healing. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2013 Jul;122(7):464-467.
E. Safety
E1. Pantothenic acid. Office of Dietary Supplements—National Institutes of Health website. Available at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/PantothenicAcid-HealthProfessional. Updated July 9, 2019. Accessed October 7, 2019.
Last reviewed February 2020 by EBSCO NAT Review Board
Eric Hurwitz, DC
Last Updated: 6/17/2020