Supplement
Vitamin B5, or pantothenic acid, is a B vitamin the body uses to make coenzyme A, which helps release energy from food and build adrenal hormones. People look at it for adrenal support, where the evidence is limited, while stronger trial findings came in deficiency, where symptoms went down and blood levels went up. Skin results, such as fewer acne lesions and better hydration, were moderate in strength and came from mid-sized studies.
- Updated
- How we grade
- 10 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade A
- Conditions studied
- 8
- Outcomes
- 15
- Graded outcomes
- 4461
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wound Closure Rate Moderate Increase | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 500 people | |||
| Skin Barrier Repair Moderate Increase | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 450 people |
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deficiency Symptoms Large Decrease | Improves (the measure goes down) | Large effect | 200 people | |||
| Blood Pantothenic Acid Large Increase | Improves (the measure goes up) | Large effect | 180 people |
Acne
- Acne Lesion Count: improves
- Sebum Production: improves
- Pore Size: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acne Lesion Count Moderate Decrease | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 300 people | |||
| Sebum Production Moderate Decrease | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 200 people | |||
| Pore Size Small Decrease | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 150 people |
Skin Health
- Skin Hydration: improves
- Skin Roughness: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin Hydration Moderate Increase | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 350 people | |||
| Skin Roughness Moderate Decrease | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 280 people |
Lipid Metabolism
- Total Cholesterol: improves
- LDL Cholesterol: improves
- Triglycerides: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Cholesterol Small Decrease | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 200 people | |||
| LDL Cholesterol Small Decrease | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 200 people | |||
| Triglycerides Small Decrease | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 150 people |
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- Joint Stiffness: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joint Stiffness Small Decrease | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 80 people |
Hair Health
- Hair Strength: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hair Strength Small Increase | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 150 people |
Athletic Performance
- Exercise Endurance
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise Endurance No Significant Effect | NoneNo effect | 120 people |
Key findings
- Wound Closure RateImproves (the measure goes up)
- Skin Barrier RepairImproves (the measure goes up)
- Deficiency SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)
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Third-party tested Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.
- Grade A
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Studies cited
10 studies from PubMed
- Vitamin B5 and Wound Healing: A Systematic Review
- B Vitamins in the Treatment of Diabetic Complications: A Review
- Vitamin B5 for Acne: Evidence from Clinical Studies
- Panthenol (Provitamin B5) in Skin Care: A Review
- Pantothenic Acid and Athletic Performance: A Review
- Pantothenic Acid: Physiological Functions and Clinical Applications
- Pantothenic Acid Deficiency: Rare but Clinically Significant
- Dietary Requirements for Pantothenic Acid: Current Evidence
- Pantothenic Acid and Coenzyme A: Metabolism and Functions
- Pantothenic Acid and Lipid Metabolism: Mechanisms and Evidence