Jarrow Formulas’ Pantethine is a derivative of vitamin B5 and the stable disulfate form of pantetheine, which is the active component of Coenzyme A (CoA). Pantethine supports lipid metabolism by its ability to raise levels of CoA, a cofactor involved in several metabolic pathways including carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. CoA combines with acetyl groups to form Acetyl CoA, a participant in energy production.
What is Pantethine?
Pantethine is the active form of pantothenic acid. It has been shown to
significantly reduce serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol
(the so-called "bad cholesterol") levels while increasing HDL ("good
cholestrerol") levels in several clinical trials. Pantethine has the
advantage of being an effective treatment for high cholesterol while avoiding
the undesirable side effects of synthetic lipid-lowering drugs. In fact, there
appear to be no toxicity or side effects from to pantethine, making an
attractive and natural treatment alternative. Pantethine has been used
for the past 30 years in Japan, where it is approved as a pharmaceutical agent
for the purpose of increasing HDL-C, the "good cholesterol" needed by the body
to maintain a healthy heart.
A naturally occurring substance, Pantethine is produced as a byproduct
when the body metabolizes pantothenic acid. The name "pantothenic," from which
the word "pantethine" is drawn, literally means "something that is found
everywhere." It may not be literally everywhere, but pantethine and
pantothenic acid are found in most foods, including vegetables, dairy, eggs,
grains, and meat. Liver, salmon and yeast have especially high concentrations of
pantothenic acid, which the body uses to produce pantethine.
Although Pantethine is derived from pantothenic acid, pantethine
is not the same as pantothenic acid, and it is important to remember that the
two substances are not interchangeable. Structurally, pantethine is a
more stable disulfide form (or a double bond) of pantothenic acid. It is also a
more active metabolic substrate that is converted into an enzyme called
"Co-Enzyme A," or simply, "CoA." CoA plays a critical role in the metabolism and
breakdown of the three essential micronutrients namely proteins, carbohydrates
and fats.
Pantothenic acid has its own benefits, including enhanced adrenal functions and
the reduction of hypertension, or high blood pressure.[2] Pantothenic acid is
also known as vitamin B5, and is a member of the water-soluble B vitamin family.
It is an essential ingredient of two substances, coenzyme A and acyl carrier
protein, which are needed to metabolize carbohydrates and fats. The same
coenzymes play a part in production of certain hormones, vitamin D, red blood
cells, and the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Pantothenic acid is necessary for
proper growth and development.
Both pantothenic acid as well as pantethine should be considered as one
synergistic unit and not as mutually exclusive nutrients. Supplements of the two
nutrients can be taken together for maximum benefits
Pantethine Benefits
Pantethine lowers cholesterol and other lipid levels. Research indicates
that pantethine supplements are helpful in reducing total cholesterol,
LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels while at the same time raising the good
HDL cholesterol in the body.[3] High levels of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) -
the "bad cholesterol" - is a major contributing factor of heart disease. The
cholesterol forms plaque in the heart's blood vessels, which restricts or blocks
the supply of blood to the heart, and causes a condition called atherosclerosis,
which is a buildup of fatty substances in the inner layers of the arteries. The
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that Everyone age 20 and
older should have their cholesterol measured at least once every 5 years. It is
best to have a blood test called a "lipoprotein profile" to find out your
cholesterol numbers.
Pantethine may be a good cholesterol-lowering alternative for people with
diabetes, who cannot take niacin due to the potential side effects on blood
sugar regulation
Pantethine may lower triglyceride levels. Studies in the effect of
pantethine on triglycerides indicate that a daily dose of pantethine
is more effective than daily doses of pantothenic acid or cystamine in lowering
triglyceride levels
Pantethine may improve symptoms associated with having a fatty liver.
Also called steatosis, fatty liver can be a temporary or long-term condition.
Left untreated, steatosis can contribute to other illnesses. The liver is the
organ responsible for changing fats eaten in the diet to types of fat that can
be stored and used by the body. In a study conducted in Japan, 600 mg/day of
pantethine was administered to 16 outpatients with fatty liver and
hypertriglyceridemia for six months or longer to examine whether the drug
improved fatty liver using abdominal plain computed tomography (CT). Nine of the
16-pantethine patients were no longer diagnosed as having fatty liver
after the study period.[7]
Pantethine has been shown to enhance cognitive abilities. In rats that
received daily injections of pantethine, the drug facilitated the
learning process and activity level of the animals. Pantethine performed
much better than Cysteamine, which only slightly increased the locomotion and
rearing and did not influence the shuttle box learning.[8] Other studies have
confirmed that pantethine is beneficial to brain function.
Other possible uses: Pantethine may help rheumatoid arthritis One very
small study indicated that large daily doses of pantothenic acid were helpful to
relieve symptoms of rheumatioid arthritis.[10] Consult a healthcare provider
regarding use of supplements for this purpose. Pantethine has also been
used successfully by some doctors for patients who experience heart burn, ulcers
and candida infections and has been used with some success in the management of
certain allergies.[11] Experiments with rats have shown that a deficiency of
pantothenic acid can cause hair to turn gray and fall out. Neither oral nor
topical use of any form of pantothenic acid has been shown to prevent or treat
gray hair or balding in humans. Some skin care products contain another form of
pantothenic acid, called panthoderm, which may be helpful in treatment of minor
skin injuries. It has also been said to have certain anti-aging properties. More
research needs to be done to further substantiate these claims
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