✓ No active regulatory warningsFDA MedWatch, EMA EudraVigilance, WHO VigiBase, WADA Prohibited List · 2026-05-29
📰Read the full Pantothenic Acid evidence review on GMJ News →Complete clinical article, references and updates on news.gmj.ge. This page is the structured safety summary.⚠ Burning feet syndrome in a severely malnourished patient — consider multiple B vitamin deficiencies including B5 [3]
⚠ PKAN on differential for childhood dystonia with 'eye-of-the-tiger' MRI sign — genetic CoA biosynthesis defect, not dietary [3]
⚠ Patient asking about 'B5 for acne' or 'B5 for stress' — evidence is insufficient for both [2]
🥗 Food first — build your daily 5 mg
Check the foods you regularly eat — the bar fills toward your daily target.
Beef liver (85g)5.9 mg
Shiitake mushrooms (½ cup)2.6 mg
Chicken breast (85g)1.3 mg
Avocado (½ medium)1 mg
Sunflower seeds (28g)2 mg
Sweet potato (½ cup)0.9 mg
Egg (1 large)0.7 mg
Check your regular foods above
☑ Risk checker
Severe malnutrition or famine (historically described in prisoners of war) [3]
Chronic alcoholism with very poor dietary intake [2]
Extremely restricted diets [2]
Rare genetic defect in pantothenate kinase (PKAN — neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation) [3]
Select factors
🔬 Lab interpreter
Recommended test
Whole blood pantothenic acid
Whole blood pantothenic acid
Reference range / target
Variable by assay (not standardized)
Variable by assay (not standardized)
Not a commonly ordered test. Urinary excretion better reflects recent intake [2].
Full lab monitoring ↓⚕ For professionals — confirm ranges against your local laboratory.
Clinical verdict
Pantothenic acid deficiency is virtually impossible with a normal diet — it is truly 'everywhere' in food. Pantethine (not pantothenic acid) has modest lipid-lowering effects at 600–900 mg/day. Topical dexpanthenol is well-supported for wound healing. PKAN is a genetic neurodegeneration, not a dietary deficiency [1] [3] [4].
1 How much do I need?
👤 Adults: Specific dosage data under clinical review
👴 Elderly: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🤰 Pregnancy: Specific dosage data under clinical review
👦 Pediatric: See guidance
Infants 0–6 months: 1.7 mg/day AI; children 1–3 years: 2 mg/day; 4–8 years: 3 mg/day [1]. Isolated deficiency in children is extraordinarily rare given the vitamin's ubiquitous presence in food
🏃 Athletes: Standard dose
⚖️ Obesity: Standard dose
Fat-soluble compounds may require dose adjustment in obesity.
🩺 Renal: Consult specialist
Dose adjustment may be needed in renal impairment.
🌱 Vegan: Standard dose
How to take
🍽 Timing: Can be taken at any time, with or without food [1].
💊 With food: No specific requirement [1].
🚫 Avoid: No significant contraindications or precautions at standard doses [1].
2 Which form?
| Form | Bioavailability | Vegan | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ['Calcium D-pantothenate', 'common', 'The standard supplemental form. Well absorbed (~50%). Converted to CoA intracellularly [1].'] | Standard | Check label | |
| ['Pantethine', '', 'The disulfide form of pantetheine (a CoA precursor). Studied for lipid-lowering effects at 600–900 mg/day. Better tolerated than niacin for dyslipidemia [4].'] | Standard | Check label | |
| ['Dexpanthenol (provitamin B5)', '', 'The alcohol form. Applied topically for wound healing and skin hydration. Converted to pantothenic acid in tissues. Widely used in dermatological products [2].'] | Standard | Check label |
3 Common questions
Is pantothenic acid deficiency possible from diet? ▼
Does pantethine really lower cholesterol? ▼
Pantethine (not pantothenic acid) at 600–900 mg/day has modest lipid-lowering effects — approximately 12% LDL reduction and 14% triglyceride reduction in meta-analysis [4]. It is better tolerated than niacin but less potent. It is not a substitute for statins in high-risk patients.
Is dexpanthenol cream effective for skin? ▼
Yes — topical dexpanthenol (provitamin B5 at 5%) is well-supported for improving wound healing, skin hydration, and barrier repair [6]. It is widely used in dermatology for minor burns, eczema, and post-procedure skin care. Oral pantothenic acid for skin health is far less supported.
What is PKAN and is it related to B5 deficiency? ▼
Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN) is a rare genetic disorder affecting CoA biosynthesis, not a dietary deficiency. It causes progressive dystonia and an 'eye-of-the-tiger' sign on brain MRI [3]. Vitamin B5 supplementation does not treat PKAN — it is a structural enzyme deficiency.
4 Clinical evidence
Strong
Essential role in CoA synthesis — all central metabolic pathways (TCA cycle, fatty acid oxidation, steroid synthesis) require CoA [1]. Treatment of experimental pantothenic acid deficiency (burning feet syndrome) [3]. HIGH
Moderate
Pantethine (600–900 mg/day) for dyslipidemia: meta-analysis of 28 trials demonstrated modest LDL reduction (12%), triglyceride reduction (14%), and HDL increase (6%) [4]. Topical dexpanthenol (5%) for wound healing and skin barrier repair: systematic review supports its use for minor burns, epithelial wound healing, and atopic dermatitis [6]. MODERATE
Insufficient
Rheumatoid arthritis: an old study (1980) suggested benefit of calcium pantothenate, but this has not been replicated [2]. Athletic performance enhancement: no evidence in replete individuals [2]. Acne treatment (oral): preliminary data only [2]. Stress reduction: frequently marketed but not evidence-based [2]. LOW
5 Safety, toxicity & adverse events
Relative
⚠ No significant contraindications. Pantothenic acid has very low toxicity. No UL established by IOM due to absence of adverse effects.
🚩 Red flags
● Burning feet syndrome in a malnourished patient — likely multi-B-vitamin deficiency, not isolated B5 [3]
● Products marketing 'mega-dose B5 for acne' — no robust evidence; guide patient to evidence-based alternatives [2]
6 Interactions
Drug interactions
No clinically significant drug interactions documented None
Mechanism: Pantothenic acid has no known significant interactions with pharmaceuticals [2].
Effect: No concerns [2].
Action: No precautions needed [2].
Supplement synergies
B-complex vitamins · Standard B-complex
Pantothenic acid works in concert with other B vitamins in energy metabolism. B-complex is the standard delivery vehicle [1].
Pantothenic acid works in concert with other B vitamins in energy metabolism. B-complex is the standard delivery vehicle [1].
7 Regulatory
United States (FDA): Classified as a dietary supplement. No UL established. AI: 5 mg/day. Commonly included in B-complex and multivitamin formulations [1].
European Union (EFSA): Authorized health claims for energy metabolism and mental performance (contribution to the synthesis of steroid hormones, vitamin D, and some neurotransmitters) [7]. No UL established.
Japan (MHLW): Eligible for Foods with Function Claims. Adequate intake: 5 mg/day for adults.
South Korea (MFDS): Registered health functional food ingredient. Approved claims: energy metabolism.
8 US supplement products
460
on-market products containing Pantothenic Acid (NIH DSLD)
Brands carrying Pantothenic Acid (119)
Click a brand to see its Pantothenic Acid products.
9 Frequently paired with
10 Cite this page
Vancouver: Pkhakadze G. Pantothenic Acid — safety profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026 [cited 2026 Aug 15]. Available from: https://supplement.ge/ingredients/pantothenic-acid/
APA 7th: Pkhakadze, G. (2026). Pantothenic Acid — Safety profile. Public Health Institute of Georgia. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/pantothenic-acid/
📋 Editorial information
Author: Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Institution: Public Health Institute of Georgia (PHIG)
Affiliation: David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU)
First published: January 2026
Last reviewed: 2026-05-29
Next review: February 2027
References: 7 cited sources
COI: SupplementIndex receives no funding from supplement manufacturers. All content independently authored by PHIG.
Process: Systematic literature review
📄 License & reuse
Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may share and adapt for any purpose with attribution.
Pkhakadze G. "Pantothenic Acid — Safety Profile." SupplementIndex, PHIG, 2026. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/pantothenic-acid/ CC BY 4.0.
GP
Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Professor of Public Health · Head of Department, DTMU
Editor-in-Chief, Georgian Medical Journal (ISSN 3088-4322)
Chair, Public Health Institute of Georgia · UEMS Public Health Section
Educational and public health purposes. CC BY 4.0. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Corrections: info@accreditation.ge. Publisher: PHIG