Vitamin B5 Unit Converter

Vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid, is a water-soluble B vitamin that your body uses to make coenzyme A (CoA). CoA is a cofactor for roughly 4% of all known enzymes and is essential for converting food into energy.

A blood test for vitamin B5 measures the concentration of pantothenic acid in your serum. Because the vitamin is found in nearly all foods (its name derives from the Greek "pantos," meaning everywhere), true deficiency is rare but can occur in severe malnutrition, malabsorption, or alcoholism.

The recommended daily intake for adults is 5 mg, with higher amounts needed during pregnancy (6 mg) and breastfeeding (7 mg).

Vitamin B5 is obtained entirely from the diet. Rich sources include beef, poultry, organ meats, eggs, fish, mushrooms, avocados, sunflower seeds, whole grains, and legumes. Some gut bacteria also produce small amounts of pantothenic acid.