It is thermolabile, therefore susceptible to the rise in temperature that occurs during food cooking, and unstable to acid-base variations in pH. Nevertheless, its abundant presence in foods of animal and vegetable origin makes the relative nutritional deficiency almost impossible.
Pantothenic acid has a very important biological function, ie as a precursor of Coenzyme A (CoA), carrier of acyl groups and necessary for the metabolism of energetic macronutrients as well as that of steroid hormones.
The recommended intake of pantothenic acid is about 4-7 mg / day.
For further information: Vitamin B5 , panthenol) in most food products; the richest organic sources of pantothenic acid are: whole grains (dried), legumes (dried), mushrooms (dried), some oil seeds, egg yolk and offal (especially liver and kidney). probiotic action of the intestinal bacterial flora favors the achievement of the recommended ration by directly increasing - see functions of the intestinal bacterial flora - the intake of vitamin B5.
Note: as much as 85% of dietary pantothenic acid is found in the form of CoA and Phosphopanthenine.
For further information: Pantothenic Acid in Foods general; on the other hand, no clinical pictures related to the toxic potential of this molecule are documented in the literature. steroidal, as it acts as a universal transporter of acyl groups.Furthermore, vitamin B5 represents the main constituent of Acyl-Carrier-Protein (ACP), a carrier or transport protein, involved in the complex synthesis of fatty acids.
In the body, free pantothenic acid represents a very small portion, while most of it is found in the tissues in the form of CoA and ACP.
The metabolism / catabolism of pantothenic acid is not entirely clear, but an increase in urinary excretion has been observed following supplementary administrations; on the other hand, there is an increase in serum levels of vitamin B5 during fasting and in insulin-free diabetes. In this regard, it is conceivable that the decrease in urinary excretion of pantothenic acid is sensitive to the concentrations of circulating insulin (tubular reabsorption and vice versa).
for the Italian population (LARN) - Italian Society of Human Nutrition (SINU).
