Nutrient glossary
What is vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)?
Pantothenic acid builds coenzyme A, the hub molecule of metabolism, and is found in almost everything you eat.
Reviewed 20 July 2026. General information, not medical advice.
The short version
The name comes from the Greek for "everywhere", which is accurate: mushrooms, avocado, chicken, eggs, wholegrains and legumes all carry pantothenic acid. It forms coenzyme A, without which fats and carbohydrates cannot be burned or built.
The UK sets no daily amount because shortfall is so rare; Nutrigate shows it against the conventional reference for completeness.
Daily reference (context, not a goal)
5 mg a day
Shown against the conventional reference of 5 mg a day; the UK sets no official amount.
This is the fixed adult reference used across these pages. In the app, your amount adjusts to your body and way of eating.
Where vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) concentrates
Full ranking| Food | Per serving | Per 100g |
|---|---|---|
| Beef Liver | 6 mg | 7.1 mg |
| Trout | 2.6 mg | 2 mg |
| Salmon Fillet | 2.4 mg | 1.6 mg |
| Chicken Breast | 1.7 mg | 1 mg |
| Lobster | 1.7 mg | 1.7 mg |
| Roast Chicken | 1.5 mg | 1.1 mg |
| Turkey Mince | 1.5 mg | 1.4 mg |
| Eggs | 1.5 mg | 1.5 mg |
Shown for awareness: the reference for vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) is a stay-under or context amount, so this table is about knowing where it lives, not chasing more of it.
Common questions
- Do I need to think about vitamin B5?
- Almost never: it is present in most whole foods, and documented deficiency is essentially limited to severe malnutrition.
- Does pantothenic acid help acne?
- Evidence is thin and based on small studies of high-dose supplements; it is not an established treatment.