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Vitamin B5 for Weight Loss
Vitamin B5, or pantothenic acid, is required for producing energy in the body and keeping the nervous system healthy. Vitamin B5 can be used in weight loss to help in breaking down fats and carbohydrates, two main causes of increased weight. Several foods have been found to be rich in vitamin B5; however, most people never require taking a vitamin B5 supplement because deficiencies are rare.
Role in the Body
A major functions of vitamin B5 is releasing energy from fats, which it does by breaking down fat and burning carbohydrates for energy. In addition to this, pantothenic acid is also required for maintaining healthy digestion and speeding up the healing process in case of injuries. It is also known as the anti-stress vitamin. Vitamin B5 is helpful in increasing good cholesterol while reducing bad cholesterol levels in the body. Vitamin B5 helps in the production of vitamin D, red blood cells and sex hormones that are required for normal functioning of reproductive processes and the adrenal glands.
- A major functions of vitamin B5 is releasing energy from fats, which it does by breaking down fat and burning carbohydrates for energy.
- In addition to this, pantothenic acid is also required for maintaining healthy digestion and speeding up the healing process in case of injuries.
Weight Loss
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According to Vitamins Nutrition, some independent researchers have found that vitamin B5 can be helpful in inducing weight loss in obese patients by increasing the breakdown of fats 2. However, for this to occur, the dosage of vitamin B5 must be high, which cannot be achieved through food products. Nutritional therapist Dr. Marilyn Glenville has also reported on an increased fat metabolism that occurs with pantothenic acid.
Natural Foods
Vitamin B5 deficiency is rare so you don’t need to take any supplements however, a multi-vitamin supplement can help in fulfilling the body’s daily requirement of the vitamin.
Deficiency
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While a vitamin B5 deficiency is rare, a deficiency of this vitamin could result in depression, weakness, fatigue and loss of appetite. Vitamin B5 deficiency is common for those who consume excessive quantities of alcohol.
Side Effects
Since vitamin B5 is a water soluble vitamin, there are no side effects of taking it in large doses since excess vitamin gets released from the body during excretion. Every person is different, so if you notice any side effects when taking vitamin B5 you should stop taking the vitamin and consult with your doctor.
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References
- Anne Collins: Best Vitamins For Weight Reduction
- Vitamins Nutrition: Vitamin B5 Information
- Holick MF, Gordon CM. Patient Guide to Vitamin D Deficiency. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2011;96(7):1-2. doi:10.1210/jcem.96.7.zeg33a
- Sunyecz JA. The use of calcium and vitamin D in the management of osteoporosis. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2008;4(4):827-836. doi:10.2147/tcrm.s3552
- Giovannucci E, Liu Y, Hollis BW, Rimm EB. 25-hydroxyvitamin D and risk of myocardial infarction in men: a prospective study. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(11):1174-1180. doi:10.1001/archinte.168.11.1174
- Gorham ED, Garland CF, Garland FC, et al. Optimal vitamin D status for colorectal cancer prevention: a quantitative meta analysis. Am J Prev Med. 2007;32(3):210-216. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2006.11.004
- Lappe JM, Travers-Gustafson D, Davies KM, Recker RR, Heaney RP. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: results of a randomized trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2007;85(6):1586-1591. doi:10.1093/ajcn/85.6.1586
- Prentice RL, Pettinger MB, Jackson RD, et al. Health risks and benefits from calcium and vitamin D supplementation: Women’s Health Initiative clinical trial and cohort study. Osteoporos Int. 2013;24(2):567-580. doi:10.1007/s00198-012-2224-2
- Urashima M, Segawa T, Okazaki M, Kurihara M, Wada Y, Ida H. Randomized trial of vitamin D supplementation to prevent seasonal influenza A in schoolchildren. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;91(5):1255-1260. doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.29094
- Salehpour A, Hosseinpanah F, Shidfar F, et al. A 12-week double-blind randomized clinical trial of vitamin D₃ supplementation on body fat mass in healthy overweight and obese women. Nutr J. 2012;11:78. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-11-78
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- Marcinowska-Suchowierska E, Kupisz-Urbańska M, Łukaszkiewicz J, Płudowski P, Jones G. Vitamin D Toxicity-A Clinical Perspective. Front Endocrinol. 2018;9:550. doi:10.3389/fendo.2018.00550
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- American Academy of Dermatology. Position Statement of Vitamin D. 2010.
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- Salehpour A1, Hosseinpanah F, Shidfar F, Vafa M, Razaghi M, Dehghani S, Hoshiarrad A, Gohari M. A 12-week Double-blind Randomized Clinical Trial of Vitamin D₃ Supplementation on Body Fat Mass in Healthy Overweight and Obese Women. Nutr J. 2012 Sep 22;11:78. doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-11-78.
- Urashima M, Segawa T, Okazaki M, Kurihara M, Wada Y, Ida H. Randomized Trial of Vitamin D Supplementation to Prevent Seasonal Influenza A in Schoolchildren. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 91:1255-60. Epub 2010 Mar 10.
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Writer Bio
Lindsay Tadlock began writing in 2010. She has worked as a personal trainer for over three years and shares her fitness and nutrition knowledge in her writings. She graduated from Texas A&M University in 2000 with her Bachelor of Arts in finance and worked for seven years as a commercial lender.