Vitamin B-5 (Pantothenic Acid)

Pantothenic acid was discovered in 1933 by the noted American biochemist Roger Williams. Dr. Williams found that animals deprived of vitamin B-5 developed a variety of degenerative diseases and eventuall died. After many years of research on pantothenic acid, Dr. Williams concluded that the vitamin was commonly deficient in the American diet. In his words, “ it is wishful thinking to suppose that people always get enough (from their diets).” Further, Dr. Williams provided convincing data that humans require as much as twice the pantothenic acid as animals. What’s more, he clearly documented the heightened need for B05 in individuals suffering from constant psychological stress. thus, it is no surprise that soon agter he published his research, pantothenic acid became known as the “anti-stress vitamin.”

Pantothenic acid should also be nickname “ the power vitamin.” That is because a deficiency of pantothenic acid results in weakness and/or fatigue, and supplementation with it usually leads to an immediate increase in vitality and strenght. It makes sense that pantothenic acid would have this effect. It is required for the synthesis of adrenal hormones and these hormones are responsible for the human body’s ability to cope with the normal stresses of existence and the abnormal ones as well.

The adrenal glancs produce dozens of hormones, each of which is an essential component of the stress coping mechanism. These hormones are also involved in the maintenance of normal body fucnctions, such as salt and water retention, blood sugar regulation, anti-inflammatory activity, calcium and magnesium metabolism, libido, and immune activation.

Stress rapidly depletes tissue stores of stores of pantothenic acid. Without adequate amounts of this vitamin, the stress induced deficiency of adrenal hormones becomes extreme. A severe deficiency of adrenal hormones may lead to a potentially fatal disease know as Addison’s disease. More commonly, individuals suffer from the debilitating but rarely fatal condition called subclincial Addison’s disease. This condition results in such a wide range of symptoms that it is often under diagnosed by physicians.

This is unfortunate, since untold millions ofAmericans suffer from this debilitating condition..

Millions of Americans suffer from extreme and prolonged psychological stress. It is crucial to realize that the invaluable and life preserving adrenal hormones are used up by stress. People who have endured prolonged stress are usually severely deficient in both pantothenic acid and adrenal hormones. what’s more, prolonged stress, as might occur from grieving, chronic health problems, and/or marital discord, can damage the adrenal glands, but only if a deficiency of pantothenic acid exists. This illustrates how crucial it is to maintain adequate tissue stores of the vitamin.