Pantothenic Acid
Although pantothenic acid isn't exactly a newcomer to the vitamin scene, having been isolated in 1938, most people have never heard of this B vitamin. You can probably blame its anonymity on the fact that scientists had identified it and were able to synthesize it long before they knew its role in human nutrition. It wasn't until the late 1940s that researchers began to unravel the mystery, and part of the work earned one of them a Nobel Prize. Its name is derived from the Greek word pant, meaning everywhere, in recognition of its wide distribution in nature.
The main function of this vitamin is as a component of an important coenzyme which is vital for over 100 chemical reactions. Some of these include the release of energy from carbohydrates and the synthesis of fats, hormones, and hemoglobin. It's also involved in nerve transmission by its role in making neurotransmitters.
Scientists haven't found too many cases of pantothenic acid deficiency in humans, but they have seen enough ill effects in lab animals, such as growth retardation, infertility, and sudden death, to know it is essential. They suspect that pantothenic acid deficiency is responsible for a condition called "burning feet syndrome" reported in prisoners of war and malnourished people in the Far East. It appears that although it's rare, pantothenic acid deficiency probably causes general failure of all the body's systems.
The vitamin is widely distributed in foods, in virtually all animal foods and plant products such as grains and legumes. The 1989 RDA did-n't include a fullfledged recommendation for pantothenic acid because of a lack of sufficient evidence. But in the new DRI this is set at 5 mg for adults. It seems to be easy for the intestine to absorb pantothenic acid from foods, and a limited amount travels to the liver and kidney for storage.
Some interesting human studies have shown that high doses promoted faster wound healing after surgery, and in animals pantothenic acid seems to accelerate the normal healing process. Scientists think pantothenic acid works in these stressful situations by its effect on the adrenal glands, which produce stress hormones such as adrenalin. Recent studies suggest that this vitamin is nontoxic, with doses of 10 grams producing no ill effects, although a few studies have reported gastrointestinal symptoms at high doses.