Vitamin B5:
That Vitamin Called B5
Vitamin B5, aka pantothenic acid, serves the body in many ways. It is a member of the nutritionally elite group of eight vitamins lovingly called the Vitamin B complex. This powerful group of vitamins has a role in nearly every major body system and process. The Vitamin B complex keeps both body and mind functioning and in good health.
Vitamin B5, like all of the vitamins in the B complex, is essential to the body's ability to utilize the food it takes in as fuel for its myriad of processes, great and small. It works in the regular maintenance and repair of all bodily tissues, from the cellular level on up. This makes it a critical part of the body's efforts to fight the physical damage to which excessive stress contributes.
Vitamin B5 serves many important functions in the nervous system -- for example, Vitamin B5 contributes to the production of neurotransmitters, which are important to the ability of the nerves to communicate.
B5 is also important for hair and healthy skin. As you can imagine, it is used in a variety of cosmetic products. Vitamin B5, acting as a cofactor or partner to other members of the Vitamin B complex as well as other nutrients, has a great role in the functioning of the adrenal glands and also promotes normal growth of the body. This is due to its role in hormone production throughout the body.
In general, adults should ingest about 5mg of Vitamin B5 per day, with women increasing their daily intake to 6mg to 7mg while pregnant or breastfeeding. Children, depending on size and weight, should consume about 2mg to 4mg of Vitamin B5 each day.
The importance of the Vitamin B complex to physical health and mental functioning can really not be overstated. For optimal performance of the body and the mind, including cognitive functions and emotional reactions and stability, the standard recommended daily intake should be achieved every day. Because these are water-soluble vitamins, like vitamin B3 and some others, they are washed away daily with the urine and must be renewed daily.
Nutritional supplements are a reliable and safe way to meet the above stated nutritional goals, provided that attention is given to the accepted limits of dosage. Too much of any nutrient can be toxic, and often can cause as much damage as ingesting too little. The body is a delicately balanced system, and requires that balance to be maintained to function at its best.
Some natural sources include carrots, green leafy vegetables, and fish liver oil.
Editor's Note: Although the above article encourages the use of vitamin pills, here at Health & Beyond Online we get our daily vitamins and minerals from Dr. Ben Kim's Greens, a fantastic supergreen food. Click here to learn all about this excellent alternative to popping pills. Oh yeah, your budget will really appreciate Dr. Ben Kim's Greens per serving cost when compared to a cabinet full of vitamins and mineral pills.
Click Here to share this page with your friends, website visitors, ezine readers, social followers and other online contacts.Disclaimer: Throughout this website, statements are made pertaining to the properties and/or functions of food and/or nutritional products. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and these materials and products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Health & Beyond Online
P.O. Box 755
Earl, NC 28038-0755Contact Us
License, Terms of Use, and Privacy PolicyClick here for Other Chet Day Websites
Health & Beyond Online and Content
Copyright © 1993-2010 by Chet Day
