Human Pantothenic Acid Deficiency- The Burning Foot Syndrome

2 Human Pantothenic Acid Deficiency - The Burning Foot Syndrome 

Experimental pantothemc acid depletion, sometimes together with the administration of -methyl pantothenic acid, results in the following signs and symptoms after 2 to 3 weeks  

Neuromotor disorders, including paresthesia of the hands and feet, hyperactive deep tendon reflexes and muscle weakness. These can be explained by the role of acetyl CoA in the synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and the impaired formation of threonine acyl esters in myelin. Dysmyelination may explain the persistence and recurrence of neurological problems many years after nutritional rehabilitation in people who had suffered from burning foot syndrome. 

Mental depression, which again may be related to either acetylcholine deficit or impaired myelin synthesis. 

Gastrointestinal complaints, including severe vomiting and pain, with depressed gastric acid secretion in response to insulin and gastrin. As with the development of ulcers in deficient animals, this may reflect hypersensitivity to glucocorticoid stimulation. 

Incretised insulin sensitivity emd a flattened glucose tolerance curve, which may reflect decreased emtagonism by glucocorticoids. 

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