What is Vitamin B5?
Also known as panthenol, pantothenic acid, or pantothenate helps turn the everyday food we eat into energy and is one of the most important vitamins for human life. Additionally, vitamin B5 also helps the body break down fats. What does vitamin B5 do for hair? Is vitamin B5 good for your hair? Vitamin B5 for hair, vitamin B5 oil for hair, and more will be answered in today's article with the help of modern science and research.
Vitamin B5, found abundantly in shiitake mushrooms, can be a great addition to hair health and hair growth.
Vitamin B5 Benefits for Health
Pantothenic acid, also known as vitamin B5, is also known as the anti-stress vitamin due to its ability to regulate stress hormones that develop in the adrenal cortex. Stress can heavily impact hair pigmentation and strength, leading to gray hair and hair loss, when the body cannot properly handle the stress. More so as previously stated, pantothenic acid, also known as vitamin B5, helps turn the food we eat into the energy we need and use in our everyday lives. In the body, vitamin B5 also known as pantothenic acid is used to produce coenzyme A (CoA), which is a compound that helps enzymes build and break down fatty acids as well as perform other metabolic functions. Due to this important function of breaking down fats, vitamin B5 has been studied and used for its use in reducing cholesterol levels, particularly for those who have a high amount of fat or lipids within their bloodstream. Additionally, Harvard Health also states that pantothenic acid or vitamin B5 can be used as an antioxidant that reduces inflammation, to possibly help combat the early stages of heart disease. In summary, some of the health benefits associated with vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid include:
- Conversion of blood into glucose
- Synthesization of cholesterol
- Formation of sex and stress-related hormones
- Formation of red blood cells
Due to these important bodily functions, having enough vitamin B5 in your diet can lead to these health benefits:
- Lowers high blood pressure
- Reduce bad cholesterol
- Balance blood sugar levels
- Maintain nerve health
- Prevent heart failure
Additionally, topical use of vitamin B5 on the skin can help the body in terms of beauty as well:
- Naturally hydrate and protect the skin
- Soothe and soften skin
- Helps boost the immune system and wound healing
In addition, vitamin B5 also helps the body break down carbohydrates, proteins, and more so that the body can use them for energy to rebuild tissues, muscles, and organs. Although all of these benefits affect the whole body, some of these benefits can specifically help fix certain forms of alopecia, hair loss, and more.
Signs of Vitamin B5 Deficiency
Although vitamin B5 deficiency may be rare due to vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid being found in many foods, there have been cases of vitamin B5 deficiency in some cases of severe malnutrition or in some rare cases of those with genetic mutations in which pantothenic acid cannot be metabolized. Some of the symptoms of vitamin B5 deficiency include:
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Disturbed Sleep
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach Cramps
- Numbness or Burning Sensations
- Muscle Cramps
Vitamin B5 Benefits for Hair
Vitamin B5 AKA pantothenic acid is water-soluble and can be found in every living cell in the body. Therefore, vitamin B5 plays a crucial role in the development of new hairs, as well as other hair follicles. When combined with other nutrients, vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid can combine together to help rebuild the individual hair shafts, which can be damaged by blow-driers or heated beauty tools, excessive shampooing, or too much sun exposure. Some of the benefits of having enough vitamin B5 for your hair include:
- Prevent loss of hair
- Reduce dandruff
- Help create richer and thicker hair
- Helps with curls
- Strengthen and increase elasticity in hair
- Protect hair from heat and pollution
- Helps retain hair moisture
- Protect from hair breakage
In addition to these benefits, vitamin B5 also helps increase the water content and elasticity within the hair. Additionally, having more than enough vitamin B5 in the system can help increase hair growth by supporting and protecting the adrenal glands, which help produce the necessary hormones needed for hair growth.
Foods High in Vitamin B5
There are several natural and healthy sources for vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid, which can be very beneficial to your overall health and hair health. Vitamin B5 is generally found in almost all plant and animal foods, due to the vitamin's bioavailability in all living cells. As having enough vitamin B5 is a necessary part of a diet that optimizes hair health, it is best to have enough vitamin B5 in your diet. Some of these foods rich in vitamin B5 include:
- Shiitake Mushrooms
- Salmon
- Avocados
- Lean Chicken Breast
- Beef (Skirt Steak)
- Sunflower Seeds
- Whole Milk
- Lean Pork Chops
- Sweet Potatoes
- Lentils
- Fortified Cereals
- Organ Meats (Kidney, Liver)
- Beef
- Chicken Breast
- Avocado
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Yogurt
- Eggs
- Brown Rice
- Oats
- Broccoli
- White Button Mushrooms
- Liver
- Endive
- Beef Kidney
- Abalone
- Bluefin Tuna
- Peanuts
- Guava
- Wheat Germ
- Lobster
- Heart
- Whey Protein
- Camembert Cheese
- Eggs
- Whole Yogurt
- Fish Roe
- Pork Chop (Lean)
- Sweet Corn
- Bacon
- Duck
- Rainbow Trout
- Black Eyed Peas
- Mung Beans
Out of all these foods, shiitake mushrooms have a very high and healthy concentration of vitamin B5 AKA pantothenic acid, which is 438% of the DV. Other foods in this list with a high DV content of vitamin B5 include chicken liver (133% DV), whey protein (116% DV), yeast extract spread (92% DV), and white button mushrooms (43% DV). Some of the best sources of vitamin B5 from this list include beef, chicken, organ meats, fortified cereals, and certain vegetables. Additionally, it is important to note that pantothenic acid or vitamin B5 is often lost in food processing, such as canning, freezing, or milling. To make sure that you are having enough vitamin B5 from your diet, it is best to obtain it from fresh unprocessed foods, or from vitamin B5 oral hair supplements.
Vitamin B5 Recommended Dosage
According to the University of Harvard, vitamin B5, or pantothenic acid, is crucial for general health and hair health. The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for men and women aged 19+ years is 5 mg daily. For pregnant or lactating women, the amount increases to 6 mg and 7 mg daily, respectively. According to the same research, the tolerable upper intake level (UL), also known as the maximum daily dose, has not been established yet for pantothenic acid or vitamin B5. Although no maximum intake of vitamin B5 amount has not been established, it is generally recommended to stay within the recommended dosages of vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid as mentioned above.
Vitamin B5 Safety Profile
According to the EWG, vitamin B5 scores a 1 on its safety rating score, which states that it is at no risk for cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity, or allergies, or immunotoxicity.
Vitamin B5 Toxicity, Side Effects, Precautions
Toxic levels of pantothenic acid or vitamin B5 have not been observed yet from food sources. Yet, with very large doses daily of 10 grams a day, there have been reports of unwanted side effects of vitamin B5 which include:
- Upset Stomach
- Mild Diarrhea
How to Take Vitamin B5 for Hair Health
If you are looking for a manageable and easier way to help provide your body with enough vitamin B5 for better hair health, there are vitamin B5 infused oral supplements that you can take to do so. Often, these vitamin B5 oral supplements are infused with other vitamins and natural ingredients as well that can help the body reach its optimal hair growth and potential.
Harness the Vitamin B5-Infused Power of Dr.UGro GASHEE Natural Oral Hair Supplements
Vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid, is one of the many powerful ingredients found in Dr.UGro Gashee Oral Hair Supplements. To help increase the feel and appearance of hair density, thickness, and volume, or to help regrow hair loss or aid hair growth, take 4 capsules of Gashee Oral Hair Supplements daily.
PICTURES: Dr. UGro GASHEE Oral Hair Supplements Before & After Results
If you are struggling with hair health issues, such as hair loss, a receding hairline, growing bald patches on your scalp, hair breakage, falling hair, or more, you may be able to relate to Jennifer's story. Meet Jennifer: Jennifer, like many others who may be struggling with hair health has tried many products for her hair that did not work. Her journey towards better hair health and hair growth began with an awareness of her family history. As with most people, a decrease in hair health, hair thickness, hair strength, and hair volume eventually takes place due to age, and at times may be accelerated due to family genetics and history.
A Combination of Family Genetics & Working in The Kitchen
Working in the kitchen, Jennifer had to constantly wrap her hair in a bun to cover it, and she believed that this pressure and strain on her hair may have helped contribute to her hair loss and thinning. And unfortunately for Jennifer, this problem continued to worsen. Jennifer began to notice her hairline slowly recede, as well as her hair thinning and falling in several places in several regions along her scalp. Fortunately, Jennifer's mother was already using Dr.UGRO GASHEE natural hair care products, with great improvements and results to show for it. Due to her mother's success with GASHEE, Jennifer began taking Dr.UGRO's GASHEE Natural Oral Hair Supplements and Hair Serum Topical, and her amazing results can be seen below.
Before & After 8 Month Post-Treatment Results after using Dr.UGRO GASHEE's Astaxanthin-Infused Natural Hair Care Oral Hair Supplement & Hair Serum Topical for Improved Hair Health.*
Before & After 11-Months Post Treatment Results using Dr.UGRO GASHEE Natural Hair Care Products for Hair Loss infused with Astaxanthin*
Note the improved fullness, length, texture, sheen, and shine of her overall hair health.
Improvements Beyond Hair: Even Her Eyelashes Grew!
Within a few months, Jennifer noticed differences and improvements in her hair health immediately, even in her lashes! She noted how before, she and many of her friends would use eyelash extensions, but now she no longer has to because her eyelashes have filled and lengthened naturally using Dr.UGRO GASHEE's natural oral hair supplements. More so, Jennifer also reports that she now has to pluck her eyebrows a little bit more now, as even her eyebrows had filled out and grew, more than usual! And as for her hair, Jennifer was completely satisfied and happy - as she noted how her hairline has now filled, with thicker hair, and a fuller, healthier and happy head of hair. Now that she has had time to take a look at the before and after picture results of herself before and post-treatment, Jennifer remarks that the difference has been drastic.
Dr.UGRO GASHEE Natural Hair Health Improvement Results - Easy to Use
And the best part of Dr.UGRO's GASHEE Natural Hair Products, according to Jennifer, is how easy they are to use! For the GASHEE Natural Oral Hair Supplements she took, she only had to take 4 capsules daily. For the GASHEE Natural Hair Serum Topical she took, she only had to apply it to her hair once or twice daily depending on the desired effect.
VIDEO: Dr. UGro Gashee Before & After Pictures: Hair Health Improvement Results
Below you can see a before and after video result of Jennifer's personal journey towards better hair - where she began before using GASHEE Natural Hair Health Oral Supplements, and GASHEE Natural Hair Serum Topical.
References
- Joseph, M., 2021. 30 Foods High In Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid). [online] Nutrition Advance. Available at: https://www.nutritionadvance.com/foods-high-in-vitamin-b5/ [Accessed 30 November 2021].
- The Nutrition Source. 2021. Pantothenic Acid – Vitamin B5. [online] Available at: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/pantothenic-acid-vitamin-b5/ [Accessed 30 November 2021].
- 2021. [online] Available at: https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredients/706895-VITAMIhttps://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredients/706895-VITAMIN_B3/N_B3/ [Accessed 30 November 2021].
Further Reading
For additional information regarding hair loss and hair health improvement ingredients that you may find helpful, check out the articles below.