Side-by-Side Comparison
Essential Vitamins & Minerals
Potassium (Elemental K) vs. Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
Comparing 2 standards across 9 specifications. 9 key differences identified.
Comparing:
Potassium (Elemental K)
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
Potassium is the primary intracellular cation (140 mEq/L intracellular vs 4 mEq/L extracellular), maintaining the cellular resting membrane potential via the Na+/K+-ATPase pump and regulating vascular tone. Adequate Intake (AI) is 3,400 mg (men) / 2,600 mg (women).
Vitamin B5 is an essential water-soluble vitamin required for the synthesis of Coenzyme A (CoA) and acyl carrier protein (ACP), vital in fatty acid synthesis and beta-oxidation. Adequate Intake (AI) is 5.0 mg/day (no Upper Limit established).
Specification Comparison Table
9 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Nutrient Type
|
Essential Macromineral / Major Intracellular Electrolyte | Water-Soluble Amide Vitamin |
|
Adult Adequate Intake (AI)
|
3,400 mg / day (Men) / 2,600 mg / day (Women) (WHO Target: >3,510 mg/day) | 5.0 mg / day (6.0mg pregnancy, 7.0mg lactation) |
|
Tolerable Upper Limit (UL)
|
None Established (Whole foods; healthy kidneys clear excess; renal impairment requires clinical restriction) | None Established (Extremely low toxicity) |
|
Chemical Forms
|
Potassium Citrate, Potassium Chloride (KCl / Salt substitute), Potassium Gluconate | D-Pantothenic Acid, Calcium Pantothenate (Stable synthetic), Pantethine (Active dimer) |
|
Primary Biological Function
|
Na+/K+-ATPase resting membrane potential (-70mV), Cardiac myocardial repolarization, Endothelial nitric oxide vasodilation (lowers blood pressure), Blunts sodium-induced fluid retention | Coenzyme A (CoA) backbone (Acetyl-CoA, Succinyl-CoA), Acyl Carrier Protein in fatty acid synthase, Steroid hormone synthesis |
|
Deficiency Condition
|
Hypokalemia (Serum K+ < 3.5 mmol/L): Cardiac arrhythmias (U-waves, ventricular tachycardia), Muscle weakness, Ileus, Hypertension | Extremely rare ('Pantothen' = everywhere in foods); 'Burning Feet' syndrome (paresthesia), fatigue |
|
Top Whole Food Sources
|
Baked Russet Potato (with skin), Orange Sweet Potato, Spinach, Bananas, Atlantic Salmon, Black Beans, Hass Avocado, Coconut Water | Shiitake Mushrooms, Beef Liver, Chicken Liver, Sunflower Seeds, Egg Yolk, Hass Avocado, Whole Milk |
|
Dietary Sodium-to-Potassium Ratio
|
Ancestral human ratio was 1:4 (Na:K); modern Western diets average 2:1, significantly contributing to hypertension | — |
|
Thermal Processing Losses
|
— | 20–50% lost during meat canning, boiling, and flour milling refining |
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