10/22/2025
Today, let’s talk about one of the most overlooked B-vitamins — Vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid — and why it’s crucial for your energy, stress response, and skin health.
Vitamin B5 was discovered in the 1930s by biochemist Roger Williams.
The word pantothen means “from everywhere,” because B5 is found in nearly all foods and tissues.
It’s part of a molecule called Coenzyme A, which acts like the ignition key that starts your body’s energy engine — converting fats, carbohydrates, and proteins into ATP, your fuel for life.
Beyond energy, Vitamin B5 helps your adrenal glands produce stress hormones, supports nerve signaling, and assists your liver in breaking down toxins.
It’s also needed for cholesterol metabolism and the creation of steroid hormones, including estrogen and testosterone.
Without enough B5, people can feel fatigued, irritable, or experience that “burning feet” sensation once seen in malnourished soldiers during WWII.
The good news? It’s in a lot of whole foods — liver, eggs, salmon, beef, avocados, mushrooms, broccoli, and sweet potatoes.
But processed foods, alcohol, and chronic stress can deplete it quickly.
So if you’re burning the candle at both ends or living on coffee and takeout — you might be running low.
In functional medicine, we use pantothenic acid or pantethine for:
– Adrenal fatigue and chronic stress
– Acne and oily skin
– Lowering LDL cholesterol and triglycerides
– Improving wound healing and energy metabolism
Typical supportive doses range from 250 to 500 mg per day under supervision.
Vitamin B5 truly lives up to its name — “from everywhere” — because it supports almost every system in your body.
I’m Dr. Kim Carlucci — helping you connect science, wellness, and spine health.
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