The Benefits And Properties Of Vitamin B5
Vitamin B5, nicknamed the “anti-stress vitamin,” is excellent for keeping your body healthy. Discover the benefits and properties of vitamin B5 and learn more about it.
Definition
Vitamin B5, also called pantothenic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin (which dissolves in water). Thanks to the intestinal microbiota, the human body is able to synthesize vitamin B5. However, the body only produces a small amount of vitamin B5, which is why it is essential to consume it daily through food and/or in the form of food supplements.
The benefits and properties of vitamin B5
Vitamin B5 contributes to the synthesis of steroid hormones (stress hormones). This is why it is often called the “anti-stress vitamin.” Vitamin B5 also participates in many officially recognized actions that promote the proper functioning of the body:
- It contributes to normal intellectual performance;
- It helps reduce fatigue;
- It contributes to normal energy metabolism;
- It contributes to the normal synthesis and metabolism of steroid hormones, vitamin D and certain neurotransmitters.
In addition, vitamin B5 is a real boost to keep your skin and hair healthy.
Where is it found?
Vitamin B5 is both provided by food and produced by the intestinal flora.
Vitamin B5 is mainly found in brewer’s yeast, offal, dried fish roe, egg yolk, whole grains, soy, lentils, avocado, peanuts and cashews, milk, royal jelly, etc.
What are the needs?
The recommended nutritional intake of vitamin B5 is 5 mg per day for an adult.
Precaution: pregnant women should not take more than 10 mg per day.
Vitamin B5 food supplements
In 2012, the European health authorities (EFSA, European Food Safety Authority and the European Commission) considered that vitamin B5 food supplements can contribute to the actions mentioned above if and only if these products contain at least 0.9 mg of vitamin B5 per 100 g, 100 ml or per packaging if the product contains only one portion.
Indications and dosage of vitamin B5
Since it is a water-soluble vitamin, pantothenic acid is not stored in the body. Excess vitamin B5 is therefore extremely rare and overdose does not pose any risk.
In adulthood, the recommended daily intake of vitamin B5 is 5 mg. Note that the needs are higher for people suffering from chronic pathologies, athletes, breastfeeding or pregnant women do not exceed more than 10 mg per day.
Vitamin B5 is involved in protein and lipid synthesis and plays a role in the functioning of the nervous system. Fortunately, vitamin B5 deficiency is extremely rare in the West because it is found in sufficient quantities in many everyday foods, both of animal and plant origin. To cover vitamin and mineral needs in general, nothing beats a diversified diet!
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I hope you enjoyed this little overview of the benefits and properties of vitamin B5 and found it useful. Comment down below what you think, and do you make sure to include it in your daily intake? Or share with us vitamin B5 sources we should check out!
Looking forward to reading your comments, sending you love and positive energy!!!