what is vitamin B5 for?
915699
Pantothenic acid\n\nPantothenic acid, also called vitamin B5, is a water-soluble vitamin required to sustain life. Pantothenic acid is needed to form coenzyme-A (CoA), and is critical in the metabolism and synthesis of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Its name is derived from the Greek pantothen meaning "from everywhere" and small quantities of pantothenic acid are found in nearly every food, with high amounts in whole grain cereals, legumes, eggs, meat, and royal jelly. It is commonly found as its alcohol analog, the provitamin panthenol, and as calcium pantothenate. The dimeric form Pantethine is considered to be the more active form of the vitamin in the body, but is unstable at high temperatures or when stored for long periods, so calcium pantothenate is the more usual form of vitamin B5 when it is sold as a dietary supplement.\n\nBiologic Role\n\nCoenzyme A is synthesized in a five-step process from pantothenate. First, pantothenate is phosphorylated to 4'-phosphopantothenate by the enzyme pantothenate kinase; next, a cysteine is added to form (R)-4'-phospho-N-pantothenoylcysteine (PPC), which is then decarboxylated to 4'-phosphopantetheine. Finally, 4'phosphopantetheine is proccessed into pantothenate.\n\nSources\n\nSmall quantities of pantothenic acid are found in most foods [1], with high quantities found in whole grain and eggs. Pantothenic acid can also be found in many dietary supplements (as calcium-D-pantothenate), and some energy drink companies are now adding pantothenic acid to their beverages.\nA recent study also suggests that gut bacteria in humans can generate pantothenic acid[1].\n\nDaily Requirement\n\nUS AI 5 mg/day\nUK RDA 6mg\n\nDeficiency\n\nPantothenic acid deficiency is exceptionally rare and has not been thoroughly studied. In the few cases where deficiency has been seen (victims of starvation and limited volunteer trials), nearly all symptoms can be reversed with the return of pantothenic acid.\nSymptoms of deficiency are similar to other vitamin B deficiencies. Most are minor, including fatigue, allergies, nausea, and abdominal pain. In a few rare circumstances more serious (but reversible) conditions have been seen, such as adrenal insuffiency and hepatic encephalopathy.\nGopalan's Burning Foot Syndrome Severe Burning of the sole with symptoms including severe burning sensations in the foot and lightening pain was reported in tests conducted on volunteers.\n\nDisputed Uses\n\nGiven pantothenic acid's prevalence among living things and the limited body of studies in deficiency, many "alternative" uses of pantothenic acid have been devised.\n\nHair Care\n\nMouse models identified skin irritation and loss of hair color as possible results of severe pantothenic acid deficiency. As a result, the cosmetic industry began adding pantothenic acid to various cosmetic products, including shampoo. These products, however, showed no benefits in human trials. Despite this, many cosmetic products still advertise pantothenic acid additives.\n\nAcne\n\nFollowing from the discoveries in mouse trials[citation needed], in the late 1990s, a small study was published promoting the use of pantothenic acid to treat acne vulgaris.\nAccording to a study published in 1997 by Dr. Lit-Hung Leung[citation needed], high doses of Vitamin B5 resolved acne and decreased pore size. Dr. Leung also proposes a mechanism, stating that CoA regulates both hormones and fatty-acids, and without sufficient quantities of pantothenic acid, CoA will preferentially produce androgens.[citation needed] This causes fatty acids to build up and be excreted through sebaceous glands, causing acne.[citation needed] Leung's study gave 45 Asian males and 55 Asian females varying doses of 10-20g of pantothenic acid (100,000%-200,000% of the US Daily Value), 80% orally and 20% through topical cream. Leung noted improvement of acne within one week to one month of the start of the treatment.[citation needed
465424
It depends.  If your diet is deficient in B vitamins then a B12 supplement will boost your energy levels.  If you already get enough from your diet then the vitamin supplement will have no effect.  Personally, I find that a B vitamin taken 30 minutes before my morning workout gives me an energy boost.
483047
Taking a B-complex vitamin is a good remedy for stress/anxiety.  I don't know whether you consider vitamins and supplements "medicating yourself."  I've also found that finding a task/hobby/activity to really concentrate on is helpful -- relieves you of all of that scary free time when your mind can roam to painful memories.  Try origami -- no joke.  It's good because it makes you use your mind and your hands and requires a lot of focus.  Good luck.
927332
I don't know about hair but I use vitamin B complex from time to time. I noticed that I need to use at least 30 tablets in 30 days to prevent mouth ulcers from appearing soon and to stop white marks in nails. However, in any vitamin it depends on how really the person needs them and accordingly how long he or she needs to use them.
72671
some people swear by B vitamins.
497800
The name vitamin B12 (or B12 for short) is used in two different ways. In a broader sense it refers to a group of Co-containing compounds known as cobalamins - cyanocobalamin (an artefact formed as a result of the use of cyanide in the purification procedures), hydroxocobalamin and the two coenzyme forms of B12, methylcobalamin (MeB12) and 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin (adenosylcobalamin - AdoB12). In a more specific way, the term B12 is used to refer to only one of these forms, cyanocobalamin, which is the principal B12 form used for foods and in nutritional supplements.\n\nPseudo-B12 refers to B12-like substances which are found in certain organisms, such as Spirulina spp. (blue-green algae, cyanobacteria). However, these substances do not have B12 biological activity for humans.\n\n\nStructure\nB12 is the most chemically complex of all the vitamins. B12's structure is based on a corrin ring, which, although similar to the porphyrin ring found in heme, chlorophyll, and cytochrome, has two of the pyrrole rings directly bonded. The central metal ion is Co (cobalt). Four of the six coordinations are provided by the corrin ring nitrogens, and a fifth by a dimethylbenzimidazole group. \nthere is a Co-3 .The sixth coordination partner varies, being a cyano group (-CN), a hydroxyl group (-OH), a methyl group (-CH3) or a 5'-deoxyadenosyl group (here the C5' atom of the deoxyribose forms the covalent bond with Co), respectively, to yield the four B12 forms mentioned above. The covalent C-Co bond is the only carbon-metal bond known in biology
319798
vitamin B has a large content of yellow color. its generates yellow pigment and heat in the body. so your pee turns yellow after taking vitamin B. i feel shy answering this question ofcourse... so i couldnt make many points in public. contact on yahoo messager and i would give a clear note.
867308
There are so many vitamin B's because when scientists first discovered them, they thought they were all the same vitamin. Later, when they were able to do better tests, they realized that they were actually very different vitamins, so they gave them names like B6 and B12.
613559
you must be a very happy person who likes to eat... because b12 defiency makes people have anemia and become depressed..you might be eating these foods..Vitamin B12 is naturally found in foods including meat (especially liver and shellfish), eggs, and milk products. Fortified breakfast cereals are a particularly valuable source of vitamin B12
1165294
for one taking certain vitamins can help keep you from becoming anemic, developing cancer, keep you from getting sick, have more energy, be more healthier, have a healthier looking skin, retain information better.. etc....
26685
Vitamin B is linked to the well being of your hair.\n\nRead the Source for more information.
951584
Yes it helps in Acne control . Actually Vitamin A also helps the skin and mucous membranes function as a barrier to bacteria and viruses \n\n\nVitamin A is a group of compounds that play an important role in vision, bone growth, reproduction, cell division, and cell differentiation (in which a cell becomes part of the brain, muscle, lungs, blood, or other specialized tissue.) \n\n Vitamin A helps regulate the immune system, which helps prevent or fight off infections by making white blood cells that destroy harmful bacteria and viruses \n\nVitamin A also may help lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) fight infections more effectively.\n\nFood rich in Vitamin A are :\nliver \nsweet potatos \ncarrots \nmangoes \nspinach \ncantaloupe \ndried apricots \nmilk \negg yolks \nmozzarella cheese \n\nA word of caution: Too much vitamin A, either from animal sources or supplements, can prove toxic and is particularly dangerous during pregnancy
209844
Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid or vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin whose derivatives such as NADH play essential roles in energy metabolism in the living cell and DNA repair. The designation vitamin B3 also includes the amide form, nicotinamide or niacinamide. Severe lack of niacin causes the deficiency disease pellagra, whereas a mild deficiency slows down the metabolism, which in turn decreases cold tolerance and is a potential contributing factor towards obesity.
15552
Oddly enough, yes. Migrelief contains a suppliment called Riboflavin (also known as Vitamin B2). B vitamins are commonly known to turn urine very bright yellow, so not to worry. In fact, when I began taking a complex B vitamin, it was described to me by my nutritionist "Don't worry about your pee turning bright, neon yellow. It means that the B vitamins are working." \n\nOne thing I would be careful with though is if you are taking any complex B vitamins or Multivitamins that include B vitamins, not to upset the balance of B vitamins that your body is recieving. Not that this will be harmful, necessarily, but the B vitamins, if not balanced, can be much less helpful.
724075
It is full of B vitamins and high in proteins  especially good for vegans to prevent deficiencies.
129704
Soo many good supliments out there. \nB-12 (cyanocobalamin) in food is an extrinsic factor, meaning there is B-12 intrinsic factor, located in the stomach, neccessary to make this vitamin usable.\nThat said, I stay away from the subligual B-12 suppliments. They get B-12 into the bloodstream without the need of intrinsic factor, and the body often stops producing what it doesn't need. I haven't heard of this ever having happened with sublingual supplimentation, probably because it would take a while for this to happen, not the usuall couple of months that people usually would try "megadosing" on B-12 with sublingual lounzes. (The need for intrinsic factor limits the amount of B-12 that can be absorbed by the stomach, the average person has enough intrinsic factor to absorb about an 80% RDA B-12 actually). \nLong term vegitarians who don't get B-12 eventially stop producing the intrinsic factor, and then they end up needing B-12 shots for the rest of thier lives, but this is the one and only water soluble vitamin that the body stores, if I remember right, shots are given every 6 months.\nAll that said, of the numerous things I use, Odwalla B Monsters are a tasty source, (I just drank a half). You can drink half, put the other half in the fridge to drink later in the day, and that way have well over your 100% RDA. \nMultivitamins usually have at least 100% RDA, and are cheaper to stock up on than Odwallas, but it might be better to get vitamins from food than pills. A lot of artificial meat on the market is also B-12 fortified, check out the nutritional labels.
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Vitamin B Complex\nDescription:\nWorking together, these vitamins perform many important functions. Healthy eyes, skin, hair, and mouth tissue; a healthy nervous system, gastrointestinal tract and proper brain function are some of the systems that these vitamin support. B vitamins should be taken together, but using one of them in dosages two to three times the others can be useful to treat a particular disorder. Although the B vitamins are a team, they will be discussed individually.\n\nHealth Benefits:\nBenefits the hair, mouth nerves, eyes, .gastrointestinal tract, liver, and skin. Provides energy, metabolism of protein, fats, and carbohydrates, and the muscle tone maintenance of the gastrointestinal tract.\n\nTherapeutic Uses:\nB complex can be used to treat loss of appetite, barbiturate overdose, alcoholic psychosis, constipation,  allergies, cystitis, fatigue, anemia, stress, heart abnormalities, hypoglycemia, Meniere's. Syndrome, hypersensitivity, menstrual problems, migraine headaches, and nervous disorders. \nFor more info, click on the source page link.