Vitamin guide
Vitamin B5
Vitamin B5, or pantothenic acid, is a water-soluble B vitamin involved in energy metabolism and the synthesis and metabolism of steroid hormones, vitamin D and some neurotransmitters.
Compare products ↓What is vitamin B5?
Vitamin B5 is pantothenic acid, a water-soluble vitamin and a component of coenzyme A. This gives it a central role in the metabolism of nutrients and cellular energy.
What does vitamin B5 support?
Vitamin B5 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. It also contributes to normal mental performance and to the normal synthesis and metabolism of steroid hormones, vitamin D and some neurotransmitters.
Vitamin B5 and mental performance
Normal mental performance is one of vitamin B5’s distinctive roles. It gives pantothenic acid a useful evidence-led position beyond the more familiar B-vitamin themes of energy and tiredness.
How much vitamin B5?
The EU label NRV for pantothenic acid is 6 mg. Standalone B5 supplements can provide many times this amount, while multivitamins and B-complex products may use lower amounts. % NRV is useful context for product strength rather than a target to maximise.
B5 on its own or in a B-complex?
Vitamin B5 is commonly sold as part of a B-complex or multivitamin, while higher-strength standalone products are also available. If B5 is the ingredient you specifically want, compare its daily amount first; for a B-complex, the balance of the whole formula is usually more useful than judging one vitamin in isolation.
Calcium D-pantothenate is a common source of pantothenic acid. Some products use pantethine, a related compound that should be identified separately rather than treated as another name for standard B5.
What should you compare?
Vitamin B5 / day
Compare the amount supplied by the recommended daily serving.
Form
Check whether the label uses calcium D-pantothenate, pantethine or another B5 source.
Standalone or combination
B5 is common in B-complex and multivitamin formulas, so compare the full formulation as well as the B5 amount.
Product comparison
Compare vitamin B5 supplements
Compare vitamin B5 per day, form, serving, other active ingredients, format and vegan suitability.
How products are ordered: by labelled daily vitamin B5 amount, lower to higher; equal amounts alphabetically. This is not a ranking.
| Product | Vitamin B5 / day | Form | Recommended serving | Other active ingredients | Format | Vegan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamberts Calcium Pantothenate 500 mgView product ↗ | 500 mg | Calcium pantothenate | 1 tablet daily | — | Time-release tablet | Yes |
| Life Extension Pantothenic AcidView product ↗ | 500 mg | D-calcium pantothenate | 1 vegetarian capsule daily with a meal | Calcium 44 mg | Vegetarian capsule | Vegetarian |
| NOW Pantothenic Acid 500 mgView product ↗ | 500 mg | Calcium pantothenate | 1 veg capsule daily with a meal | Calcium 45 mg | Veg capsule | Yes |
| Solgar Pantothenic Acid 550 mgView product ↗ | 550 mg | Calcium D-pantothenate | 1 vegetable capsule daily, preferably with a meal | — | Vegetable capsule | Yes |
EU health claim details
Authorised health claims
A quick consumer view — full regulatory list available below● Pantothenic acid contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.Tiredness & fatigue · General population
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
Food must be at least a source of pantothenic acid.
General food: 0.9 mg / 100 g or 100 ml
Beverage: 0.45 mg / 100 ml
Single-portion pack: 0.9 mg per portion
Calculated from the EU NRV significant-amount reference. Claim-specific conditions take precedence.
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1758
EU legal source
Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012
● Pantothenic acid contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.Energy metabolism · General population
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
Food must be at least a source of pantothenic acid.
General food: 0.9 mg / 100 g or 100 ml
Beverage: 0.45 mg / 100 ml
Single-portion pack: 0.9 mg per portion
Calculated from the EU NRV significant-amount reference. Claim-specific conditions take precedence.
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2009;7(9):1218
EU legal source
Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012
● Pantothenic acid contributes to normal synthesis and metabolism of steroid hormones, vitamin D and some neurotransmitters.Hormones, vitamin D & neurotransmitters · General population
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
Food must be at least a source of pantothenic acid.
General food: 0.9 mg / 100 g or 100 ml
Beverage: 0.45 mg / 100 ml
Single-portion pack: 0.9 mg per portion
Calculated from the EU NRV significant-amount reference. Claim-specific conditions take precedence.
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2009;7(9):1218
EU legal source
Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012
×Other assessed health claims (8)
Not authorised for use in the EUView claims ↓
Other assessed health claims (8)
Not authorised for use in the EU● Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails — assessed relationship: maintenance of bone.Bones ·
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
—
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2009;7(9):1218
EU legal source
—
Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
● Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails — assessed relationship: maintenance of hair.Hair ·
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
—
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2009;7(9):1218
EU legal source
—
Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
● Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails — assessed relationship: maintenance of nails.Nails ·
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
—
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2009;7(9):1218
EU legal source
—
Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
● Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails — assessed relationship: maintenance of skin.Skin ·
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
—
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2009;7(9):1218
EU legal source
—
Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
● Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails — assessed relationship: maintenance of teeth.Teeth ·
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
—
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2009;7(9):1218
EU legal source
—
Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
● Necessary to maintain energy and general vitality.Energy and vitality ·
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
—
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1738
EU legal source
—
Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food is not sufficiently defined to be able to be assessed and the claim could not therefore be substantiated.
● Pantothenic acid supports healthy hormone balance. Pantothenic acid is required for normal adrenal function.Adrenal function ·
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
—
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1758
EU legal source
—
Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food is not sufficiently defined to be able to be assessed and the claim could not therefore be substantiated.
● Helps the skin hydration and fights against exfoliation. Helps to fight against skin dryness.Skin ·
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
—
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1758
EU legal source
—
Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
Regulatory details
Check how the claims on this page are classified and where their regulatory information comes from.
View page-level details
- Ingredient
- Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5)
- Category
- Vitamin
- NRV
- 6 mg
- Authorised claims
- 4
- Other assessed claims
- 8
- Claim framework
- EU nutrition and health claims framework. Individual claim cards show the specific claim type, conditions of use, EFSA reference and legal source available in the version data.
Tip: expand any claim above for its claim-specific source details. The European Commission's EU Register is an information service; legal acts are the authoritative source for legal requirements, and some pending claims are not shown in the Register.
Claim use requirements
How much of this nutrient must a food contain for an EU health claim to be used?
0.45 mg / 100 ml for beverages
0.9 mg per portion if the package contains only one portion