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10.6: Pantothenic Acid

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    21670
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    Pantothenic acid has two roles in the body:

    1. It is part of coenzyme A (\(\ce{CoA}\)), this is its major role
    2. It is part of acyl carrier protein

    Coenzyme A

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

    Chemical structure of a molecule featuring hydroxyl groups, an amine group, and a carbon chain.
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): The structure of pantothenic acid1
    Chemical structure diagram with highlighted region showing a specific bonding or functional group.
    Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): The structure of coenzyme A (\(\ce{CoA}\)) with pantothenic acid circled2

    The functions of \(\ce{CoA}\) are shown and described below3.

    Biochemical pathway diagram showing various metabolic processes with labeled connections to energy production and substrates.
    Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\): Acetyl-\(\ce{CoA}\) is a central point in metabolism, and contains \(\ce{CoA}\)4
    Diagram illustrating metabolic pathways with ATP conversion to AMP and NADH production, leading to the TCA cycle and ETC.
    Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\): \(\ce{CoA}\) is used in fatty acid oxidation. The fatty acid is activated by adding \(\ce{CoA}\), forming acyl-\(\ce{CoA}\).
    Illustration explaining the biosynthesis of palmitate (16C fatty acid) with arrows showing the process and involved molecules.
    Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\): Fatty acid synthesis uses \(\ce{CoA}\)5

    Acyl Carrier Protein

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

    Most pantothenic acid in food is found as \(\ce{CoA}\), 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.

    Diagram illustrating the pathway of pantothenic acid in an enterocyte, showing its conversion and transport mechanisms.
    Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\): 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 that pantothenic acid deficiency was the cause of this syndrome. Other symptoms noted are vomiting, fatigue, weakness, restlessness, and irritability3. No toxicity has been reported.

    ADAPT \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    References

    1. en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pa..._structure.svg
    2. 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. en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CellRespiration.svg
    5. en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A...%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.

    This page titled 10.6: Pantothenic Acid was last modified on Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:49:20 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Brian Lindshield via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.