Pantothenic Acid

Pantothenic acid is a structural component of coenzyme A (CoA), a compound of central importance in energy metabolic processes. It is involved, through CoA, in carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism. Pantothenic acid is widely distributed in the food supply, making it unlikely that an athlete would suffer from a deficiency, particularly with adequate total energy intake. If a rare deficiency does occur, symptoms include easy fatigue, weakness, and insomnia. The highest concentrations of pantothenic acid are found in meat, whole grain foods, beans, and peas. Supplemental doses of the vitamin are typically 10 milligrams per day (double the DRI of 5 milligrams per day) and, at this level, have not resulted in toxicity. However, few data are available on the potential for pantothenic acid toxicity, so athletes should be cautious about high-dose supplementation with this vitamin.

A possible relationship exists between pantothenic acid supplementation and exercise performance, but more information is needed before a sound recommendation can be made on pantothenate intake for athletes. In studies that have experimented with pantothenic acid supplements to determine a requirement level, the typical dosage has been 10 milligrams per day. At this level of intake, 5 to 7 milligrams per day are excreted in the urine.Therefore, it appears that taking supplements at the level of 10 milligrams per day is excessive.