Deficiency of pantothenic acid

Pantothenic acid is a component of CoA, an essential coenzyme in a variety of reactions that sustain life. 

Deficiency of pantothenic acid is rare and takes several weeks to develop. It has been observed only in cases of severe malnutrition.

World War II prisoners in the Philippines, Burma, and Japan experienced numbness and painful burning and tingling in their feet; these symptoms were relived specially by pantothenic acid.

Deficiencies of this vitamin cause degeneration of nerve tissues with resulting muscular weakness, numbness and malaise.

Symptoms of pantothenic deficiency include burning feet syndrome, which is feeling of tingling and tenderness in the feet; headache; fatigue; impaired motor function; muscle cramps; disturbances of the digestive tract; and vomiting.
Deficiency of pantothenic acid

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Pantothenic acid in Human Body

The name of pantothenic acid name comes from the Greek would ‘pantothen’, meaning “from every side” in reference to its ubiquitous occurrence after it was found to have a similar function in lactic acid bacteria, chicks, and rats.

Pantothenic acid also known as vitamin B5, was first discovered as an essential growth factor for yeast cells.

It was isolated in 1938 by Dr. Williams.

Pantothenic acid, a vitamin required for normal growth, nerve development, and normal skin is a component of enzyme systems involved in metabolism (e.g., acetylation processes). It is believed, and there is evidence, that pantothenic acid is intimately related to riboflavin in human nutrition.

Pantothenic acid is a component of coenzyme A (CoA), which in turn a component of acetyl CoA. Acetyl CoA sits at the crossroads of a number of metabolic pathways – both energy generating pathways and biosynthetic pathways.

CoA is essential for the production of ATP from the metabolism of carbohydrate, protein and fat.

Pantothenic acid functions as the prosthetic group for acyl carrier protein, an important component of the fatty acid synthase complex that is involved in the synthesis of fatty acids. It was demonstrated that mild pantoithenate deficiency in rats caused increase serum and free fatty fatty acid levels.

There is some indication that pantothenic acid helps improve our ability to heal and withstand the stress of physical injury.
Pantothenic acid in Human Body

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