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The Amazing Journey of Pantone Acid: How It Becomes the Key to Cellular Energy? Did you know?
Pantonic acid (vitamin B5) is a water-soluble vitamin that is essential for all plant and animal life. It is involved in the production of cellular energy and is a key raw material for the synthesis of coenzyme A (CoA). Why has this seemingly mundane acid become such an integral part of the energy production process?
The name pantone acid is derived from the Greek "pantothen", meaning "from all places" because it can be found in almost all foods.
Pantonic acid is composed of pantoic acid and beta-alanine. In biosynthesis, it is a necessary precursor to coenzyme A, whose main function is to help break down carbohydrates, lipids and proteins to provide energy for cells. In the process, the supply of ATP makes this series of reactions possible.
The synthesis process of coenzyme A
Pantonic acid is converted to coenzyme A in five steps, a process that requires the synthesized amino acid cysteine and up to four ATPs. The main steps include:
- Pantonic acid is phosphorylated to 4'-phosphopantonic acid.
- Combines with cysteine to form 4'-phospho-N-pantonate cysteine.
- Converted to 4'-phosphopantedine through decarboxylation.
- Further converted to dephosphorylated CoA.
- The final conversion to coenzyme A is needed to satisfy energy metabolism.
Coenzyme A plays an important role in the citric acid cycle, helping cells convert food into usable energy.
Dietary recommendations and sources
Although pantonate deficiency in humans is extremely rare, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends an adequate daily intake of 5 mg for adolescents and adults over 14 years of age. The recommended daily intake for pregnant and breastfeeding women is slightly higher, 6 mg and 7 mg respectively.
Pantonic acid comes from a wide range of sources, including animal foods (such as dairy products and eggs) and plant foods (such as potatoes, tomato products, oats and mushrooms).
Similarly, choosing whole grains can help us get this vitamin because it tends to be concentrated in the outer layer of the grain.
Safety and dosage recommendations
JOM and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) both believe that pantonic acid is highly safe and have not found that high doses will cause adverse reactions. Therefore, a tolerable upper intake level (UL) has not yet been established.
Deficiency symptoms and animal nutrition
The symptoms of pantonic acid deficiency are similar to those of other B vitamin deficiencies, showing primarily as an impairment of energy production. Even so, this situation is extremely rare. In animal feed, supplements certified as safe and effective can also increase the pantonic acid content of meat and eggs. For ruminants, the amount of pantonic acid synthesized is significantly higher than their dietary requirements.
Summary
All in all, pantonic acid plays a variety of roles in the body, from cellular energy production to other important physiological functions, and its presence helps us maintain health. However, how seriously do people attach importance to this "ubiquitous" vitamin?
