Pantothenic acid vitamin B5

Chemical Formula	C9H17NO5
Molecular Weight	219.237 g/mol
Names and Identifiers	PubChem Link
Traditional Name	Pantothenic acid vitamin B5
CAS Registry Number	79-83-4

 

Pantothenic acid, also called vitamin B5 (a B vitamin), is a water-soluble vitamin. Pantothenic acid is an essential nutrient. Animals require pantothenic acid in order to synthesize coenzyme-A (CoA), as well as to synthesize and metabolize proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. The anion is called pantothenate.

Pantothenic acid is the amide between pantoic acid and β-alanine. Its name derives from the Greek pantothen, meaning "from everywhere", and small quantities of pantothenic acid are found in nearly every food, with high amounts in fortified whole-grain cereals, egg yolks, liver and dried mushrooms. It is commonly found as its alcohol analog, the provitamin panthenol (pantothenol), and as calcium pantothenate.

Pantothenic acid was discovered by Roger J. Williams in 1933.

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