Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) vs. Vitamin E (d-Alpha-Tocopherol)
Comparing 2 standards across 10 specifications. 10 key differences identified.
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).
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.
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 |