Deficiency is exceptionally rare, so no therapeutic study amount is established for healthy adults.
Reviewed · Published
Pantothenic acid
A component of coenzyme A needed across fatty-acid and other metabolic reactions.
Established functions
- A component of coenzyme A needed across fatty-acid and other metabolic reactions.
Dietary sources
- chicken
- shiitake mushrooms
- avocado
Claims and evidence
Claims that Pantothenic acid alone prevents or treats disease, or invariably improves health without deficiency, are unsupported.
Japanese reference amounts
- Japanese adults (age and sex as specified): Adults 5 mg/day (AI); pregnancy and lactation 6 mg/day
Amounts studied
- Deficiency is exceptionally rare, so no therapeutic study amount is established for healthy adults.
Tolerable upper limits
- No UL is established; very large doses can cause diarrhea.
Forms and bioavailability
Supplement forms: calcium pantothenate, pantethine
- Food-bound forms are digested before absorption; supplements provide free forms.
Safety and interactions
Adverse effects
- diarrhea and abdominal discomfort at very high doses
Medicine and nutrient interactions
- documented medicine interactions are limited
Contraindications and cautions
- Few known contraindications; pantothenic acid alone is not established to treat hair loss.
Practical selection
- Compare Pantothenic acid amount per serving, form, allergens, and batch testing; prefer a single-ingredient product suited to the intended use.
Sources and review
- Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese (2025)Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan)
- NIH ODS vitamin fact sheetsNIH Office of Dietary Supplements
Daiki Minaki (editorial and evidence review) ·