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Do you suffer from
burning feet or heels?
You may have a deficiency in VITAMIN B5
What is Vitamin
B5? (Pantothenic Acid)
Known as "the
anti-stress vitamin", pantothenic acid plays a role in the production of
the adrenal hormones and the formation of antibodies, aids in vitamin
utilization, and helps to convert fats, carbohydrates, and proteins into
energy. It is required by all cells in the body and is concentrated in the
organs. It is also involved in the production of neurotransmitters.
This vitamin is an
essential element of coenzyme A, a vital body chemical involved in many
necessary metabolic functions. Pantothenic acid is also a stamina enhancer and
prevents certain forms of anemia. It is needed for normal functioning of the
gastrointestinal tract and may be helpful in treating depression and anxiety.
A deficiency of pantothenic acid may cause fatigue, headache, nausea, and
tingling in the hands. Pantothenic acid is also needed for proper functioning
of the adrenal glands.
Sources
The following foods
contain pantothenic acid: beef, brewer's yeast, eggs, fresh vegetables,
kidney, legumes, liver, mushrooms, nuts, pork, royal jelly, saltwater fish,
torula yeast, whole rye flour, and whole wheat.
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) is widely
distributed in plants and animal tissues and is found in meats, liver, salmon,
whole grains, legumes, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes and tomatoes.
Vitamin Deficiency
Vitamin B5 provides adrenal support in
high stress situations and deficiency causes atrophy of the adrenal glands,
which leads to fatigue, headache, sleep problems, nausea, and abdominal
discomfort. People suffering from chronic stress
or those using corticosteroids continuously may benefit from vitamin B5
supplements of 100-500 milligrams a day. Patients had to wait seven to 14 days
before seeing any effect of the supplementation.
Neuromuscular degeneration may also
occur in the absence of vitamin B5. In humans fed a diet low in pantothenic
acid effected by the vitamin B5 antagonist omega-methylpantothenic acid,
subjects reported tiredness, headache, sleep problems, nausea, abdominal
cramps, some vomiting, and impaired coordination.
In 1976, Fry and colleagues produced the same set of symptoms by giving
subjects a diet free of pantothenic acid for 10 weeks.
Find out more about Vitamin B5
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