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 eventually 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 after 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 strength. 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 glands 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 functions, 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 subclinical 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 of Americans 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.

Regular supplementation with pantothenic acid can help reverse stress induced adrenal damage.

One particularly amazing feature of pantothenic acid is that a deficiency can cause symptoms to develop rather rapidly. Usually, it takes several months or perhaps years for a deficiency of a nutrient to surface in the form of symptoms and/or ailments. In contrast, vitamin B-5 deficiency may cause symptoms to occur within days. Researchers discovered that a whole catalog of illnesses and symptoms resulted when pantothenic acid was selectively removed from the diet of human volunteers. Perhaps the most dominating finding was the damage that occurs to the adrenal glands as a result of pantothenic acid deficiency. the researchers discovered that this damage was particularly acute if the adrenal glands were already severely stressed. Stress combined with pantothenic acid deficiency resulted in cell death within the glands. As a result, the ability of the glands to produce adrenal hormones was severely impaired. However, when the diet was supplemented with pantothenic acid, the damage was prevented and the function returned to normal.

Unfortunately, pantothenic acid is found in large amounts in relatively few foods. top sources include organ meats, egg yolks, muscle meats, soybean flour, and royal jelly. Fruits, pasta, vegetables, and most beans are devoid of pantothenic acid. Thus, strict vegetarians frequently develop B-5 deficiencies.

Which of these apply to your?

1. Chronic fatigue

2. fall asleep more easily sitting up

3. insomnia

4. bloating and/or distension after eating

5. rapid pounding of heart/pulse on exertion

6. burning feet and/or heels

7. hard pebble like stools

8. chronic constipation

9. vague abdominal pains

10. nervousness

11. mood swings

12. anxiety and/or panic attacks

13. depression

14. extreme weakness

15. muscle cramps, especially cramps in the feet or toes

16. quarrelsome or hot tempered behavior

17. low blood pressure

18. susceptibility to infections, especially sore throats

19. patchy hair loss (alopecia)

20. lack of coordination

21. faintness or fainting spells (blackouts)

22. crying spells

23. nausea and/or vomiting

24. eczema and/or psoriasis

25. jumpiness and/or shakiness

26. noise sensitivity

27. headaches

28. food allergies

29. sensitivity to chemicals

30. infrequent urination

31. compulsive behavior

32. inability to cope with stress

33. excessive sweating of palms and feet

34. impaired memory

35. pains in the lower neck and upper back

36. receding gums

37. vague abdominal pain

38. lack of appetite

39. restless leg syndrome (constant motion of legs at night)

40. bruxism (grinding of the teeth and clenching of the jaw at night)

41. sleep apnea

42. sleepiness during the day

43. agitation and/or temper tantrums

44. Do you take cortisone and/or use cortisone creams?

45. Have you been under severe stress recently?

46. Do you have a history of severe allergic disease such as hives, eczema, and/or asthma?

47. Do you consume alcohol on a regular basis (one or more drinks per day)?

48. Do you have chronic joint pain?

49. Do you have a history of TMJ syndrome?

50. Do you suffer from frequent outbreaks of herpes (cold sores, genital herpes, shingles)?

51. Do you have chronic pain in the mid to l9ower back that is described as “kidney pain?”

52. Is your hair turning gray prematurely?

53. Do you suffer from diabetes or hypoglycemia?

54. Do you have a history of gout attacks?

55. Do you fall asleep spontaneously or uncontrollably during the day (narcolepsy)?

Your Score ____

0 to 11 points Mild pantothenic acid deficiency: Take 100 mg of pantothenic acid three times daily. Minimize the consumption of refined sugars and grains.

12 to 22 points Moderate pantothenic acid deficiency: Take 500 mg three times daily. Increase the consumption of foods rich in pantothenic acid, including royal jelly, bee pollen, organic liver, and fresh meats. Follow a low sugar and starch diet. Reduce the consumption of alcohol and avoid caffeine.

23 to 34 points Severe pantothenic acid deficiency: Take 1,000 mg three times daily.

Avoid refined sugar and severely restrict alcohol intake. Take one teaspoon of royal jelly with breakfast and dinner. Increase the consumption of foods rich in protein and natural fats and reduce your carbohydrate intake. Carbohydrates, particularly refined ones, stress the adrenal glands and increase the demand for pantothenic acid. Curtail the consumption of all dietary sources of refined sugar, white flour, caffeine, and alcohol.

35 and above Extreme pantothenic acid deficiency: Warning—extreme debilitation, that is fatigue, weakness, mental derangement, and chronic pain, are likely to develop at this level of deficiency. Prolonged extreme B-5 deficiency may result in the onset of degenerative disease, including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency, lupus, heart rhythm, disturbances, hypoglycemia, and diabetes. Follow the aforementioned dietary advice, and take 1,000 mg of pantothenic acid four times daily. If you scored above 42 points

your dosage of pantothenic acid is 2.000 mg 4 times daily (or as much as possible, since this ensures constant stimulation of adrenal steroid synthesis. Additionally, take one teaspoon of royal jelly three times daily; royal jelly is the richest known naturally occurring source of pantothenic acid. vitamins A, C, E, and B-6, as well as the minerals selenium, chromium, and magnesium, are extra important, since they help conserve pantothenic acid. Be sure to take them on a daily basis. Avoid all foods containing refined sugars, and curtail the consumption of alcoholic beverages. alcohol destroys pantothenic acid. Caffeine weakens the adrenal glands and aggravates the B-5 deficiency state by causing the loss of this nutrient through the urine. All sources of caffeine and caffeine-like substances, such as cocoa, coffee, tea, soft drinks and vanilla bean, should be eliminated from the diet.