Pantothenic acid is a component of CoA, an essential coenzyme in a variety of reactions that sustain life.
Deficiency of pantothenic acid is rare and takes several weeks to develop. It has been observed only in cases of severe malnutrition.
World War II prisoners in the Philippines, Burma, and Japan experienced numbness and painful burning and tingling in their feet; these symptoms were relived specially by pantothenic acid.
Deficiencies of this vitamin cause degeneration of nerve tissues with resulting muscular weakness, numbness and malaise.
Symptoms of pantothenic deficiency include burning feet syndrome, which is feeling of tingling and tenderness in the feet; headache; fatigue; impaired motor function; muscle cramps; disturbances of the digestive tract; and vomiting.
Deficiency of pantothenic acid
