How Is Vitamin B5 Absorbed

Free pantothenic acid is absorbed into intestinal cells via a saturable, sodium-dependent active transport system. At high levels of intake, when this mechanism is saturated, some pantothenic acid may also be absorbed via passive diffusion.

How is pantothenic acid metabolized?

This occurs by the sequential activity of two intestinal hydrolases, a pyrophosphatase and a phosphatase. Pantetheine, the product, can be further metabolized to pantothenic acid by another intestinal hydrolase, pantetheinase.

Where is vitamin B5 stored in the body?

Pantothenic acid (B5) and biotin (B7) are types of B vitamins. They are water-soluble, which means that the body can’t store them. If the body can’t use the entire vitamin, the extra amount leaves the body through the urine. The body keeps a small reserve of these vitamins.