What You Need to Know About Pantothenic Acid
Are you getting enough of the nutrients your body needs?
*What are the best food sources?
*What happens if you don’t get enough?
*What happens if you get too much?
*Pantothenic acid-rich recipes on Delish
Pantothenic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin needed to break down nutrients in our food into energy our cells can use. This vitamin also plays a role in making various hormones and cholesterol.
The following table lists the recommended intake for healthy people based on current scientific information.
What are the best food sources?
Major food sources of pantothenic acid include poultry, beef, fish, whole grains, legumes, broccoli and yogurt. Some food-processing techniques, such as refining whole grains and freezing and canning vegetables, meat and dairy products, can reportedly lower pantothenic acid content by 35 to 75 percent.
What happens if you don't get enough?
Pantothenic acid deficiency is rare—so rare, in fact, that it has been observed only in World War II prisoners who consumed grossly inadequate diets and in research subjects in whom it was artificially induced. In those cases, signs and symptoms included irritability, fatigue, apathy, numbness and tingling of the extremities, muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting.
What happens if you get too much?
High intakes of pantothenic acid have not been shown to cause harm. However, studies have not specifically looked at harmful effects of excess pantothenic acid, so stay within the range of recommended intakes.
From www.eatingwell.com with permission. © 2009 Eating Well Inc.
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MSN Health & Fitness does not provide medical or any other health care advice, diagnosis or treatment.
