# item.guide
Side-by-Side Comparison Essential Vitamins & Minerals

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) vs. Vitamin E (d-Alpha-Tocopherol)

Comparing 2 standards across 10 specifications. 10 key differences identified.

Comparing:
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
Vitamin E (d-Alpha-Tocopherol)

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).

View full Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) spec sheet →

Vitamin E is the principal fat-soluble peroxyl radical-scavenging antioxidant protecting cellular polyunsaturated membrane phospholipids. Adult RDA is 15 mg (22.4 IU) of d-alpha-tocopherol, with a Tolerable Upper Limit of 1,000 mg (1,500 IU)/day.

View full Vitamin E (d-Alpha-Tocopherol) spec sheet →

Specification Comparison Table

10 Parameters
Parameter / Spec
Nutrient Type
Water-Soluble Amide Vitamin Fat-Soluble Chromanol Lipophilic Vitamin
Tolerable Upper Limit (UL)
None Established (Extremely low toxicity) 1,000 mg / day (1,500 IU synthetic) (Excess impairs Vitamin K clotting cascade)
Chemical Forms
D-Pantothenic Acid, Calcium Pantothenate (Stable synthetic), Pantethine (Active dimer) RRR-alpha-Tocopherol (Natural d-alpha), all-rac-alpha-Tocopherol (Synthetic dl-alpha), Gamma/Delta-Tocopherols
Primary Biological Function
Coenzyme A (CoA) backbone (Acetyl-CoA, Succinyl-CoA), Acyl Carrier Protein in fatty acid synthase, Steroid hormone synthesis Breaks lipid peroxidation chain in PUFA cell membranes, protects LDL from oxidative modification, maintains erythrocyte membrane integrity
Deficiency Condition
Extremely rare ('Pantothen' = everywhere in foods); 'Burning Feet' syndrome (paresthesia), fatigue Hemolytic anemia, Spinocerebellar ataxia, Peripheral neuropathy, Loss of vibratory/proprioceptive sense
Top Whole Food Sources
Shiitake Mushrooms, Beef Liver, Chicken Liver, Sunflower Seeds, Egg Yolk, Hass Avocado, Whole Milk Wheat Germ Oil, Sunflower Seeds, Raw Almonds, Hazelnuts, Sunflower Oil, Spinach, Hass Avocado
Adult Adequate Intake (AI)
5.0 mg / day (6.0mg pregnancy, 7.0mg lactation)
Thermal Processing Losses
20–50% lost during meat canning, boiling, and flour milling refining
Adult RDA / RDI
15 mg / day (22.4 IU) of 2R-alpha-tocopherol
Hepatic Alpha-TTP Specificity
The liver secretes only alpha-tocopherol into VLDL via Alpha-Tocopherol Transfer Protein (alpha-TTP); other tocopherols are degraded in bile