Last update May 20, 2018

Pantothenic Acid

Compatible

Safe substance and/or breastfeeding is the best option.

Pantothenic acid, dexpanthenol or vitamin B5 is widely distributed in nature being very abundant in meat, vegetables, cereals, legumes, eggs, milk, fruit and vegetables (MedlinePlus 2015), therefore its deficiency is very rare.

The only recognized indication for administering pantothenic acid is to treat vitamin B5 deficiency. There is no evidence that it can be used to treat any other disease or condition. (MedlinePlus 2015).

Daily requirements are 2 mg in infants, 4 in children, 5 in adults, 6 in pregnant women and 7 mg in breastfeeding mothers (Ares 2015, MedlinePLus 2015).

Pantothenic acid is excreted in breast milk at a concentration of 2 to 2.7 mg/L (Sakurai 2005, Song 1984) with little variation throughout breastfeeding (Ren 2015, Johnston 1981) and is directly proportional to maternal ingestion (Song 1984, Johnston 1981).

The concentration is higher in milk of mothers of premature babies than in full-term infants (Ford 1983).

With a varied and balanced diet, supplements of this vitamin are not needed during breastfeeding, it is enough to adequately select the food in one’s diet (Song 1985).

Topical use, most commonly used as panthenol or provitamin B5, regardless of its questionable efficacy, is compatible with breastfeeding.


See below the information of this related product:

  • Panthenol (Safe substance and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)

Alternatives

We do not have alternatives for Pantothenic Acid since it is relatively safe.

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

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Other names

Pantothenic Acid is also known as


Pantothenic Acid in other languages or writings:

Groups

Pantothenic Acid belongs to these groups or families:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing Pantothenic Acid in its composition:

List of 11 tradenames

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Molecular weight 219 daltons
pKa 4.35 -

References

  1. Ren X, Yang Z, Shao B, Yin SA, Yang X. B-Vitamin Levels in Human Milk among Different Lactation Stages and Areas in China. PLoS One. 2015 Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  2. Ares Segura S, Arena Ansótegui J, Díaz-Gómez NM; en representación del Comité de Lactancia Materna de la Asociación Española de Pediatría. La importancia de la nutrición materna durante la lactancia, ¿necesitan las madres lactantes suplementos nutricionales? [The importance of maternal nutrition during breastfeeding: Do breastfeeding mothers need nutritional supplements?] An Pediatr (Barc). 2015 Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  3. EFSA. European Food Safety Authority. Tolerable upper intake levels for vitamins and minerals. Scientific Committee on Food. 2006 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  4. Sakurai T, Furukawa M, Asoh M, Kanno T, Kojima T, Yonekubo A. Fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamin contents of breast milk from Japanese women. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2005 Abstract
  5. Song WO, Wyse BW, Hansen RG. Pantothenic acid status of pregnant and lactating women. J Am Diet Assoc. 1985 Abstract
  6. Song WO, Chan GM, Wyse BW, Hansen RG. Effect of pantothenic acid status on the content of the vitamin in human milk. Am J Clin Nutr. 1984 Abstract
  7. Ford JE, Zechalko A, Murphy J, Brooke OG. Comparison of the B vitamin composition of milk from mothers of preterm and term babies. Arch Dis Child. 1983 Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  8. Johnston L, Vaughan L, Fox HM. Pantothenic acid content of human milk. Am J Clin Nutr. 1981 Abstract
  9. Srinivasan V, Belavady B. Nutritional status of pantothenic acid in Indian pregnant and nursing women. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 1976 Abstract

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