Toxicity and Disputed uses of Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)

by sydshahid

Six Principles of Physical, mental and Spiritual Health (PMSH)

Dr Shahid has summarized his six principles of health in a very simple form. Simplicity sometimes may not be politically correct. Well... What is wrong if you get the message and decide to live until 100 - 125 years and longer; without ever having to see any health care provider (MD,DO, DC, NP, PA, DP, DD, OD, psychiatrist, psychologist, spiritualist etc); during all your long and healthy life? Moreover, you will live a life that is full of vigor, enthusiasm, happiness and contentment for 100-125 years and even longer.

What else can anyone ask for? Does it sound too good to be true?

Well… IT IS "too good" and IT IS "true".

Remember! Health is what "YOU" make of it. It is "YOUR" responsibility. Not your health care provider's.

Follow these six principles of Dr Shahid’s Preventive Health. Also known as "Preventive Healthy Life Style (PHLS)", and see the result for yourself. You be the judge. The best part of it is, "it won’t cost you a penny". It is all free. And

"YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO SEE ANY HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR AS LONG AS YOU LIVE."

As they say,

"One ounce of prevention is better than two pounds of cure."

So here are the six principles of holistic preventive healthy life style.

The basis of these six principles (holistic prevention) is already discussed in previous blogs. Let us discuss these principles in detail.


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The first principle of preventive health is a balanced diet. It consists of three parts:

1. Proteins, Fat & Carbohydrates in right proportion.
2. Vitamins, Minerals, fibers (VMF)
3. Water and Oxygen

We have completed an elaborate detail of the essential nutrients of balanced diet (Proteins, Fats and Carbohydrates) in previous blogs.

We have also given a brief description of #2 Vitamins, Minerals, fibers (VMF)

Let us describe vitamins in little more detail.

Very few people know what vitamins are and what is their real function in human body.

A brief history of vitamins was given in last blog. let us start with vitamins one by one in detail.

Vitamins are classified as either water-soluble or fat soluble. In humans there are 13 vitamins: 4 fat-soluble (A, D, E and K) and 9 water-soluble (8 B vitamins and vitamin C).

A. Fat-soluble vitamins

Fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed through the intestinal tract with the help of lipids (fats). Because they are more likely to accumulate in the body, they are more likely to lead to hypervitaminosis than are water-soluble vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamin regulation is of of particular significance in cystic fibrosis. Fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A ,D, E and K), have been discussed already.

Now we discuss the Water-soluble vitamins.

B. Water-soluble vitamins

Water-soluble vitamins dissolve easily in water, and in general, are readily excreted from the body, to the degree that urinary output is a strong predictor of vitamin consumption. Because they are not readily stored, consistent daily intake is important. Many types of water-soluble vitamins are synthesized by bacteria.

The B vitamins are eight water-soluble vitamins that play important roles in cell metabolism. Historically, the B vitamins were once thought to be a single vitamin, referred to as vitamin B (much like how people refer to vitamin C or vitamin D). Later research showed that they are chemically distinct vitamins that often coexist in the same foods. Supplements containing all eight are generally referred to as a vitamin B complex. Individual B vitamin supplements are referred to by the specific name of each vitamin (e.g. B1, B2, B3 etc ).

We discussed a detailed account of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) and Vitamin B2 (Riboflavinin), Vitamin B3 (Niacine), Now we continue with Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) .
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Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)

Toxicity



Toxicity of pantothenic acid is unlikely. In fact, no Tolerable Upper Level Intake (UL) has been established for the vitamin. Large doses of the vitamin, when ingested, have no reported side effects and massive doses (e.g. 10 g/day) may only yield mild intestinal distress and diarrhea at worst

There are also no adverse reactions known following parenteral or topical application of the vitamin.

While it has not been proven, there is some indication that doses of pantothenic acid that are greater than 100mg may increase niacin excretion.



Disputed uses



Given pantothenic acid's prevalence among living things and the limited body of studies in deficiency, many "alternative" uses of pantothenic acid have been devised.

1. Testicular Torsion

Testicular Torsion can severely affect fertility if it occurs. One study on a rat model indicated that a treatment of 500mg of dexpanthenol/kg body weight 30 minutes prior to detorsion can greatly decrease the risk of infertility after torsion. Pantothenic acid has the ability to spare reduced glutathione levels. Reactive oxygen species play a role in testicular atrophy, which the glutathione can 'fight' against.

2. Diabetic Ulceration

Foot ulceration is a problem commonly associated with diabetes, which often leads to amputation. A preliminary study indicated that perhaps a royal jelly and panthenol ointment can help cure the ulceration. People studied with foot ulceration or deep tissue infection had a 96% and 92% success rate of recovery. However, as this was a pilot study, it was not a randomized placebo-controlled double-blinded study. While these results appear promising, they need to be validated.

3. Hypolipidemic Effects

Pantothenic acid derivatives, panthenol, phosphopantethine and pantethine, have also been seen to improve the lipid profile in the blood and liver. In a mouse model, they injected 150mg of the derivative/kg body weight. All three derivatives were able to effectively lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) as well as triglyceride (TG) levels, panthenol was able to lower total cholesterol and pantethine was able to lower LDL-cholesterol in the serum. The decrease in LDL-cholesterol is significant, as it will decrease the risk of heart attack and stroke. In the liver, panthenol was the most effective, as it lowered TG, T-chol, free cholesterol and cholesterol-ester levels.

4.Wound Healing

A study in 1999 showed that pantothenic acid has an effect on wound healing in vitro. Wiemann and Hermann found that cell cultures with a concentration of 100ìg/mL calcium D-pantothenate increased migration, and the fibres ran directionally with several layers, whereas the cell cultures without pantothenic acid healed in no orderly motion, and with fewer layers. Cell proliferation or cell multiplication was found to increase with pantothenic acid supplementation. Finally, there were increased concentrations of two proteins, both of which have still to be been identified, that was found in the supplemented culture, but not on the control. Further studies are needed to determine whether these effects will stand in vivo.

5. Hair care

Mouse models identified skin irritation and loss of hair color as possible results of severe pantothenic acid deficiency. As a result, the cosmetic industry began adding pantothenic acid to various cosmetic products, including shampoo. These products, however, showed no benefits in human trials. Despite this, many cosmetic products still advertise pantothenic acid additives.

6. Acne

Following from discoveries in mouse trials, in the late 1990s a small study was published promoting the use of pantothenic acid to treat acne vulgaris. According to a study published in 1995 by Dr. Lit-Hung Leung, high doses of Vitamin B5 resolved acne and decreased pore size. Dr. Leung also proposes a mechanism, stating that CoA regulates both hormones and fatty-acids, and without sufficient quantities of pantothenic acid, CoA will preferentially produce androgens. This causes fatty acids to build up and be excreted through sebaceous glands, causing acne. Leung's study gave 45 Asian males and 55 Asian females varying doses of 10-20g of pantothenic acid (2000% of the US Daily Value), 80% orally and 20% through topical cream. Leung noted improvement of acne within one week to one month of the start of the treatment.

Critics are quick to point out the flaws in Dr. Leung's study, however. Dr. Leung's study was not a double-blind placebo controlled trial. To date, the only study looking at the effect of Vitamin B5 on acne is Dr. Leung's, and few if any dermatologists prescribe high-dose pantothenic acid. Furthermore, there is no evidence documenting acetyl-CoA regulation of androgens instead of fatty acids in times of stress or limited availability, since fatty acids are also necessary for life.

7. Diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy

28 out of 33 patients (84.8%) previously treated with alpha-lipoic acid for peripheral polyneuropathy reported further improvement after combination with pantothenic acid. The theoretical basis for this is that both substances intervene at different sites in pyruvate metabolism and are thus more effective than one substance alone. Additional clinical findings indicated that diabetic neuropathy may occur in association with a latent pre-diabetic metabolic disturbance, and that the symptoms of neuropathy can be favorably influenced by the described combination therapy, even in poorly controlled diabetes.





we will continue next with Vitamin B6, also called pyridoxine.

For comment and questions please write to :

syedshahidmd@yahoo.com.au

P.S. I must thank all of those readers who send me comments and questions. I must tell them that their inspiring comments and questions are highly appreciated. Please continue to write, preferably via email.

Thanks

Sydshahid

Posted 5/21/2009 6:11:27 AM
About the Author



Syed Shahid MD
View profile

Perth,  WA

Interests: Dr Sydney Shahid has many interests. He ejoys reading scietific magazines. He likes to keep himself busy with latest medical researches. He has special interest in Alzheimer’s illness. he has strong evidence that this tragedy can be delayed (if not prevented) for as long as 25 - 30 years and even longer, if one follows Dr Shahid’d six principles of health faithfully. He likes to make friends with those who have similar interests as his. He has few friends and they all appreciate what he is doing for humanity. He believes in positive thinking. In his opinion one must pursue those interests which make one believe in oneself. He loves to play tennis, table tennis and cricket if he can find time. Travelling is his other interest. He has travelled all over the world. He enjoys different cultures and their varied way of life. Lately world politics has become his passion. He wishes to see peace in the world but he doesn’t think it is possible because of the greed in the mind of most of the industrialised nations who are exploiting third world countries. He is also interested in writing a book about his Six Principle of Health (EUREKA). He is already in the process of making it happen. He wants the whole world to know his secret of healthy long life.

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