Requirements pantothenic acid

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. 

Increased insulin sensitivity and a flattened glucose tolerance curve, which may reflect decreased antagonism by glucocorticoids. 

Decreased serum cholesterol and decreased urinary excretion of 17-ketosteroids, reflecting the impairment of steroidogenesis. 

Decreased acetylation of p-aminobenzoic acid, sulfonamides, and other drugs, thus reflecting reduced availability of acetyl CoA for these reactions. 

Incretised susceptibility to upper respiratory tract infections, which presumably reflects the impairment of immune responses. 

---

Coenzyme A a derivative of pantothenic acid required for many reactions in human metabolism. 

There are reports that the amount of protein in the diet conditions to some extent the pantothenic acid requirement of the rat (Nelson and Evans, 1945 Nelson et al., 1947), and it may be that low-protein diets, which are known to stress the adrenal, may increase the pantothenate requirement. 

Other investigators have suggested that dietary requirements can be influenced by the endocrine status of the experimental animal. Lotspeich s (1950) experiment indicating that the pantothenic acid requirement of the adult rat can be increased by the injection of growth hormone has already been cited. Lewis and Everson (1952) have presented data on the increase in pantothenate and biotin requirements of female rats during pregnancy. 

The recent dramatic development of mass spectrometry has developed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and LC-MS methods. Although pantothenic acid is not volatile enough for direct GC, pantothenic acid can be detected by MS after conversion to volatile compounds such as trimethylsilyl derivatives. Derivatization to volatile compounds from pantothenic acid requires an internal standard and the pantothenic acid homologue hopantothenic acid or radioisotope labelled [ C3, N]-pantothenic acid are used as internal standards for measurement by GC-MS (Banno et al. 1990 Rychlik 2000). 

There is no evidence on which to estimate pantothenic acid requirements. Average intakes are between 3 and 7 mg/day and, as deficiency does not occur, such intakes are obviously more than adequate to meet requirements. 

RECOMMENDED DAILY ALLOWANCE. The amount of pantothenic acid required by human beings has not been determined so, a recommended daily allowance for pantothenic acid has not been made by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council. Nevertheless, they do give "estimated safe and adequate intakes" beised on proportional energy needs (see section on VITAMIN(S), Table V-5, Vitamin Table). Further, they suggest that a higher intake may be needed during pregnancy and lactation. 

Pantothenic acid is vital for the release of energy from food, for healthy growth and for the production of antibodies. Pantothenic acid requires vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin B9 and vitamin B3 in order to function properly. 

---