As I collect more information regarding Vitamin B5, it’s different forms and their effects I will post it here.
Pantethine
It’s the ‘active form’ of Vitamin B5, so it doesn’t need to be converted in your body like Pantothenic acid does.
Adrenal Fatigue, Cortisol and Co-Enzyme A
“Pantethine, the active form of pantothenic acid (B5), is one of the most important nutrients for adrenal function. It is converted into an enzyme called co-enzyme A. Coenzyme A is required to produce adrenal hormones like cortisol and aldosterone, which support healthy adrenal function. The suggested dose of pantethine is 450 mg twice a day with food.” – From Chris Kresser’s Personal Paleo Code
Co-enzyme A is ultimately converted to Acetyl Co-Enzyme A which has several functions in the body. It is produced by the krebs cycle and is part of the citric acid cycle. Therefore, it plays an important part in metabolism.
Anyway, the important thing here is that CoA and cholesterol are used to produce pregnenolone which is the up-stream hormone that is converted into progesterone, then progesterone is converted into either aldosterone or cortisol.
Taking more pregnenolone is often a treatment path for adrenal dysfunction, but taking high-ish dose Pantethine is a way to achieve increased pregnenolone without taking the hormone directly.
Hyperlipidemia – High Cholesterol and Triglycerides
Pantethine has powerful effects on blood lipids as well. This works by increasing the availability of Co-Enzyme A which then helps to significantly bring down cholesterol numbers.
“A daily dose of 900mg has been shown to reduce triglyceride by up to 32% as well as a 19% drop in total cholesterol and a 21% drop in LDL ( the “bad” cholesterol) cholesterol . At the same time, HDL (the “good” cholesterol) rose by 23%. Pantethine also protects the heart and arteries and acts synergistically with vitamin E against cholesterol build up.” – Dr. Lam