Pantothenic acid has two roles in the body:

1. It is part of coenzyme A (CoA)

2. It is part of acyl carrier protein

1. Coenzyme A

The structure of pantothenic acid is shown alone below and circled within coenzyme A.

Figure 10.61 The structure of pantothenic acid¹

Figure 10.62 The structure of coenzyme A (CoA) with the pantothenic acid circled²

The functions of CoA are shown and described below³.

Figure 10.63 Acetyl-CoA is a central point in metabolism, and contains CoA⁴

Figure 10.64 CoA is used in fatty acid oxidation. The fatty acid is activated by adding CoA, forming acyl-CoA.

Figure 10.65 Fatty acid synthesis uses CoA⁵

2. Acyl Carrier Protein

Acyl carrier protein, is also important in fatty acid synthesis³.

Most pantothenic acid in food is found as CoA, which is cleaved prior to absorption. It is then taken up into the enterocyte through the sodium-dependent multivitamin transporter (SMVT) as shown below. Approximately 50% of pantothenic acid is absorbed; it is excreted primarily in urine³.

Figure 10.66 The absorption of pantothenic acid

Deficiency of pantothenic acid is very rare. Pantothenic acid supplementation did relieve the symptoms (burning feet and numbness of toes) of “burning feet syndrome” in prisoners in World War II⁶. It is believed pantothenic acid deficiency was the cause of this syndrome. Other symptoms noted are vomiting, fatigue, weakness, restlessness, and irritability3. No toxicity has been reported.

References & Links

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pantothenic_acid_structure.svg

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coenzym_A.svg

3. Gropper SS, Smith JL, Groff JL. (2008) Advanced nutrition and human metabolism. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing.

4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CellRespiration.svg

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Animal_mitochondrion_diagram_en_%28edit%29.svg

6. Shils ME, Shike M, Ross AC, Caballero B, Cousins RJ, editors. (2006) Modern nutrition in health and disease. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.