Why Vitamin B5 [Pantothenic Acid]is an essential vitamin?

Vitamin B5, or Pantothenic Acid, is an essential vitamin required by the body for cellular processes and optimal maintenance of fat. A deficiency of vitamin B5 is rare, however, when it does occur is usually seen in the form of irritability, fatigue, apathy, numbness, paresthesia, and muscle cramps. It can also lead to increased sensitivity to insulin, or hypoglycemia. Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin B5, is a water soluble vitamin that is well regulated by the body, thus overdose is rare, and may only be noticed in the form of slight digestive complaints or diarrhea. The current daily value for Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) is 10mg.

vitamin B5 rich foods includes chicken liver, whey protein, rice bran, mushrooms, sunflower seeds, tomatoes, avocado and fish.

Pantothenic acid is frequently used in combination with other B vitamins in vitamin B complex formulations. Vitamin B complex generally includes vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin/niacinamide), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), and folic acid. However, some products do not contain all of these ingredients and some may include others, such as biotin, para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), choline bitartrate, and inositol.

Pantothenic acid has a long list of uses, for treating dietary deficiencies, acne, alcoholism, allergies, baldness, asthma, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, burning feet syndrome, yeast infections, heart failure, carpal tunnel syndrome, respiratory disorders, celiac disease, colitis, conjunctivitis, convulsions, and cystitis. It is also taken by mouth for dandruff, depression, diabetic nerve pain, enhancing immune function, improving athletic performance, tongue infections, gray hair, headache, hyperactivity, low blood sugar, trouble sleeping (insomnia), irritability, low blood pressure, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, muscular cramps in the legs associated with pregnancy or alcoholism, neuralgia, and obesity.

Pantothenic acid is also used orally for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson's disease, nerve pain, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), enlarged prostate, protection against mental and physical stress and anxiety, reducing adverse effects of thyroid therapy in congenital hypothyroidism, reducing signs of aging, reducing susceptibility to colds and other infections, retarded growth, shingles, skin disorders, stimulating adrenal glands, chronic fatigue syndrome, ASA toxicity, streptomycin neurotoxicity, dizziness, and wound healing.

There are some types of people that will benefit more from vitamin B5 than others. For example, if you suffer from stress all the time or if you drink alcoholic beverages regularly, it's essential that you make sure that you get enough vitamin B5 into your diet. In order to make the most of it when you do, you should try taking more vitamin A and vitamin C, as both of these complement vitamin B5 well within the body.
Pantothenic acid deficiency is exceptionally rare and has not been thoroughly studied. In the few cases where deficiency has been seen (victims of starvation and limited volunteer trials), nearly all symptoms can be reversed with the return of pantothenic acid supplementation.
A study in 1999 showed pantothenic acid has an effect on wound healing.
Additional clinical findings indicated diabetic neuropathy may occur in association with a latent prediabetic metabolic disturbance, and that the symptoms of neuropathy can be favorably influenced by the described combination therapy of pantothenic acid and all other B vitamins.