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OCR for page 270
TABLE 1 Dietary Reference Intakes for Pantothenic Acid by
Life Stage Group
DRI values (mg/day)
AIa ULb
Life stage groupc
0 through 6 mo 1.7
7 through 12 mo 1.8
1 through 3 y 2
4 through 8 y 3
9 through 13 y 4
14 through 18 y 5
19 through 30 y 5
31 through 50 y 5
51 through 70 y 5
> 70 y 5
Pregnancy
£ 18 y 6
19 through 50 y 6
Lactation
£ 18 y 7
19 through 50 y 7
a AI = Adequate Intake.
b UL = Tolerable Upper Intake Level. Data were insufficient to set a UL. In the
absence of a UL, extra caution may be warranted in consuming levels above the
recommended intake.
c All groups except Pregnancy and Lactation represent males and females.
OCR for page 271
PART III: PANTOTHENIC ACID 271
PANTOTHENIC ACID
P
antothenic acid functions as a component of coenzyme A (CoA), which
is involved in fatty acid metabolism. Pantothenic acid is widely distrib-
uted in foods and is essential to almost all forms of life.
Since data were insufficient to set an Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)
and thus calculate a Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for pantothenic
acid, an Adequate Intake (AI) was instead developed. The AIs for pantothenic acid
are based on pantothenic acid intake sufficient to replace urinary excretion.
Data were insufficient to set a Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL). DRI values are
listed by life stage group in Table 1.
Major food sources of pantothenic acid include chicken, beef, potatoes, oat
cereals, tomato products, liver, kidney, yeast, egg yolk, broccoli, and whole
grains. Pantothenic acid deficiency is rare, and no adverse effects have been
associated with high intakes.
PANTOTHENIC ACID AND THE BODY
Function
Pantothenic acid is involved in the synthesis of coenzyme A (CoA), which is
involved in the synthesis of fatty acids and membrane phospholipids, amino
acids, steroid hormones, vitamins A and D, porphyrin and corrin rings, and
neurotransmitters.
Absorption, Metabolism, Storage, and Excretion
Pantothenic acid is absorbed in the small intestine by active transport at low
concentrations of the vitamin and by passive transport at higher concentra-
tions. Because the active transport system is saturable, absorption is less effi-
cient at higher concentrations of intake. However, the exact intake levels at
which absorption decreases in humans are not known. Pantothenic acid is ex-
creted in the urine in amounts that are proportional with dietary intake over a
wide range of intake values.
DETERMINING DRIS
Determining Requirements
Since data were insufficient to set an EAR and thus calculate an RDA, an AI was
instead developed. The AIs for pantothenic acid are based on pantothenic acid
intake sufficient to replace urinary excretion.
OCR for page 272
DRIs: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS
272
Criteria for Determining Pantothenic Acid
Requirements, by Life Stage Group
Life stage group Criterion
0 through 6 mo Human milk content
7 through 12 mo Mean of extrapolation from younger infants and from adults
1 through 18 y Extrapolation from adults
19 through > 70 y Pantothenic acid intake sufficient to replace urinary excretion
Pregnancy
£ 18 y through 50 y Mean intake of pregnant women
Lactation
£ 18 y through 50 y Pantothenic acid sufficient to replace amount excreted in milk +
amount needed to maintain concentration of maternal blood
levels
The UL
The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is the highest level of daily nutrient
intake that is likely to pose no risk of adverse effects for almost all people. Due
to insufficient data on adverse effects of oral pantothenic acid consumption, a
UL for pantothenic acid could not be determined.
DIETARY SOURCES
Foods
Data on the pantothenic acid content of food are very limited. Foods that are
reported to be major sources include chicken, beef, potatoes, oat cereals, to-
mato products, liver, kidney, yeast, egg yolk, broccoli, and whole grains. Food
processing, including the refining of whole grains and the freezing and canning
of vegetables, fish, meat, and dairy products, lowers the pantothenic acid con-
tent of these foods.
Dietary Supplements
Results from the 1986 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) indicated that
22 percent of U.S. adults took a supplement that contained pantothenic acid.
Bioavailability
Little information exists on the bioavailability of dietary pantothenic acid. Val-
ues of 40–61 percent (average of 50 percent) have been reported for absorbed
food-bound pantothenic acid.
OCR for page 273
PART III: PANTOTHENIC ACID 273
Dietary Interactions
This information was not provided at the time the DRI values for this nutrient
were set.
INADEQUATE INTAKE AND DEFICIENCY
Pantothenic acid deficiency is rare and has only been observed in individuals
who were fed diets devoid of the vitamin or who were given a pantothenic-acid
metabolic antagonist. The signs and symptoms of deficiency may include the
following:
• Irritability and restlessness
• Fatigue
• Apathy
• Malaise
• Sleep disturbances
• Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps
• Neurobiological symptoms, such as numbness, paresthesias, muscle
cramps, and staggering gait
• Hypoglycemia and increased sensitivity to insulin
EXCESS INTAKE
No adverse effects have been associated with high intakes of pantothenic acid.
KEY POINTS FOR PANTOTHENIC ACID
Pantothenic acid functions as a component of coenzyme A
3
(CoA), which is involved in fatty acid metabolism.
Since data were insufficient to set an EAR and thus calculate
3
an RDA for pantothenic acid, an AI was instead developed.
The AIs for pantothenic acid are based on pantothenic acid
3
intake sufficient to replace urinary excretion.
Data were insufficient to set a UL.
3
Major food sources of pantothenic acid include chicken, beef,
3
potatoes, oat cereals, tomato products, liver, kidney, yeast, egg
yolk, broccoli, and whole grains.
Pantothenic acid deficiency is rare and has only been observed
3
in individuals who were fed diets devoid of the vitamin or who
were given a pantothenic acid metabolic antagonist.
No adverse effects have been associated with high intakes of
3
pantothenic acid.
