I created this website to try and bring some balance to the pantothenic acid and acne debate. There are many websites on the internet promising nothing short of a miracle from supplementing pantothenic acid, equally there are many that almost assure you that it won’t work. I present the facts below for you to make up your own mind.
Table Of Contents
In Part 1
1.0 What Is Pantothenic Acid / Vitamin B5?
1.1 What are the functions of pantothenic acid / vitamin B5?
1.2 How Is Pantothenic Acid Supposed to Help With Acne?
1.3 What Is The Research Behind Pantothenic Acid and Acne?
1.4 How Much Pantothenic Acid Should I Take?
In Part 2
1.5 When Should I Take It?
1.6 Does High Dose Pantothenic Acid Really Work For Acne?
1.7 What Are The Side Effects?
1.8 Where Is The Best Place To Buy Pantothenic Acid?
1.9 What about Pantothenic Acid/ Vitamin B5 Creams?
0.0 A Disclaimer
The information on this website is not to be taken as medical advice. I set this website up to provide the facts on pantothenic acid so people can make their own informed decisions. This website was not written by a qualified or medically trained person and this information shouldn’t substitute or replace medical advice. While every effort has been made to keep the information on this page factually correct there may be some (unknown to me) errors or mistakes.
Now that’s over, lets get down to business!
1.0 What Is Pantothenic Acid / Vitamin B5?
Pantothenic acid also known as Vitamin B5 is an essential B Vitamin that’s required in small amounts daily within the body. Vitamin B5 was discovered by Roger J Williams in 1919. Pantothenic acid is an essential nutrient and a water soluble vitamin. It’s commonly found in supplement form as calcium pantothenate.
1.1 What Are The Functions Of Pantothenic Acid / Vitamin B5 in the Body?
Pantothenic acid’s main function is in the production of coenzyme A. Coenzyme A is highly important for the production of energy production and for the breakdown of fats/lipid; coenzyme A can act as an acetyl group carrier to form acetyl-coenzyme A. Co enzyme A is required for the synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol (an important precursor to many hormones) and directly in the production of hormones themselves. Pantothenic acid’s biological role is far reaching to say the least.
1.2 How Is Pantothenic Acid Supposed to Help With Acne?
As mentioned above, pantothenic acid is key to creating coenzyme A (CoA) within a cell and it’s through this production of CoA that the benefits towards acne were first theorised by Dr Lit-Hung Leung (MD). Dr Leung’s proposed theory is that acne is a product of defective lipid/fat metabolism stemming from a deficiency of CoA within a cell caused by a pantothenic acid deficiency. Dr Leung states that when there is a CoA deficiency within the body, hormones will be preferentially produced with the CoA the body has while fatty acid / lipid metabolism may suffer.
From this poor lipid metabolism, sebum (the oil on our skin) is then released by sebaceous glands (on our face back and shoulders) resulting in acne. Essentially Dr Leung’s theory is that a lack of CoA causes excess sebum which then can lead to acne.
1.3 What Is The Research Behind Pantothenic Acid and Acne?
Dr Leung ran a research study back in 1995 testing the effectiveness of pantothenic acid for acne. His study involved giving 100 patients (45 Asian Male, 55 Asian Female) doses of 10-20 grams of pantothenic acid per day. 80% of the pantothenic acid was given orally, 20% via topical cream. Dr Leung’s study noted a general improvement of acne symptoms.
1.4 How Much Pantothenic Acid Should I Take?
Dr Leung’s acne study gave patients 10 grams (10,000mg) of pantothenic acid, which was administered as 4 divided doses throughout the day. 4 doses of 2.5 grams (2500mg) evenly throughout the day is what I’d aim for. It has been mentioned in one of Dr Leung’s articles that it might be required to step the dosage up to 15-20 grams of pantothenic acid for severe cases.
Click here for part two of the FAQ. This includes;
1.5 When Should I Take It?
1.6 Does High Dose Pantothenic Acid Really Work For Acne?
1.7 What Are The Side Effects?
1.8 Where Is The Best Place To Buy Pantothenic Acid?
1.9 What about Pantothenic Acid/ Vitamin B5 Creams?
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