What is another name for vitamin B5?

Another name for vitamin B5 is pantothenic acid. It is a water-soluble B vitamin that the body uses to make coenzyme A, a molecule essential to energy metabolism and to the production and breakdown of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.

The name pantothenic comes from the Greek pantothen, meaning “from everywhere,” because small amounts occur in a wide range of foods. Useful sources include meat, eggs, dairy products, mushrooms, avocados, potatoes, sunflower seeds, and whole grains. Because it is so widespread in food, true deficiency is very rare in healthy people.

Pantothenic acid is also associated with several related supplement names. Calcium pantothenate is a more stable salt commonly used in supplements and fortified foods, while panthenol is a related form that can be converted into pantothenic acid. Pantethine is different: it consists of two pantothenic-acid molecules joined together and should not be treated as simply another name for vitamin B5.