Biotin and Pantothenic Acid

Biotin acts as a coenzyme for carboxylation reactions essential to fat and carbohydrate metabolism. Adequate intake for adults is 30 mcg/day.

Pantothenic acid is widely distributed in foods; it is an essential component of coenzyme A. Adults probably require about 5 mg/day. A beneficial role forpantothenic acid supplementation in lipid metabolism, rheumatoid arthritis, or athletic performance remains unproved.

Isolated deficiency of biotin or pantothenic acid virtually never occurs.

(See also Overview of Vitamins.)