Pantothenic acid

What is pantothenic acid structure?

Alanine and pantoic acid joined by an amide linkage.

What are good sources of pantothenic acid?

Present in virtually everywhere.

Meats (esp. liver), sunflower seeds, egg yolk.

What factors destroy pantothenic acid?

Heating, freezing, and in acid and alkaline solutions. Refining of grains decreases content by up to 50%.

What forms of pantothenic acid are used in supplements?

Ca pantothenate, Na pantothenate, panthenol.

What is panthenol added to?

Some skin and hair products as a humectant.

What is the DV for pantothenic acid?

5 mg, used to be 10mg

Can coenzyme A be synthesized from pantothenic acid?

Yes.

Pantothenic acid → 4'-phosphopantothenic acid → 4'-phosphopantothenyl cysteine → 4'-phosphopantetheine → dephosphocoenzyme A → Coenzyme A.

What is the structure of Coenzyme A?

4'-phosphopantetheine and adenosine-3',5'-diphosphate.

How is pantothenic acid digested?

Found in food as CoA and as part of acyl carrier protein.

Hydrolases and pantetheinase break it down into free pantothenic acid.

Absorbed in the enterocyte by Sodium-dependent Multivitamin Transporter. At high levels, pantothenic acid is absorbed by passive diffusion.

Pantothenic acid is released into the blood.

Where and how is pantothenic acid absorbed and stored?

Transported in RBC and free in plasma.

Taken in via sodium dependent multivitamin transporter by most tissues of the body.

Stored in all tissues mostly as CoA; higher concentrations in liver, adrenal gland, kidneys, brain, and heart.

What is the primary function of pantothenic acid?

As a component of Coenzyme A in many metabolic rxns

What processes is CoA essential to?

TCA cycle, fatty acid synthesis, elongation, and degradation, post-translational modifications of some proteins, and many other metabolic and regulatory processes. Part of acyl carrier protein.

How is pantothenic acid metabolized and excreted?

CoA is dephosphorylated during metabolism and can be degraded. Catabolized to pantothenate, cysteamine and other compounds.

Excreted as pantothenate.

What is the Recommended Intake for pantothenic acid?

5 mg for adults, 6 and 7 mg/day for pregnant and lactating women.

How is pantothenic acid status assessed?

Urinary pantothenate levels

What is pantothenic acid deficiency?

Rare – observed in cases of malnutrition or experimentally.

What are the signs and symptoms of pantothenic acid deficiency?

"Burning foot syndrome" abnormal skin sensations in feet and lower legs. Vomiting, fatigue, muscle weakness, arm and leg cramping, restlessness, irritability.

Who is at-risk for pantothenic acid deficiency?

People with alcohol use disorder, DM, IBD