What is Vitamin B5 deficiency?
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) is present in almost all plant and animal-based foods, so deficiency is rare except in people with severe malnutrition. Primary groups at risk are those with a rare genetic disorder called pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration.
Common vitamin B5 deficiency symptoms:
- Numbness
- Burning of hands
- Burning of feet
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Sleeping problems
- Stomach pain
- Heartburn
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
What causes a vitamin B5 deficiency?
- Severe malnutrition
- Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN)
Further reading: National Institutes of Health (1),(2)