Pregnancy is one of the most cherished phases in every woman’s life. The feeling of carrying a new life inside you make you joyful and at the same time cautious. As soon as you disclose the good news, you will be flooded with advice on the dos and don’ts from your friends and families. And suggestions related to healthy food habits are the biggest of all. In this article, we explain the role of vitamin B5 during pregnancy.
Consuming healthy foods rich in nutrients, essential elements, vitamins, and minerals is highly recommended by medical practitioners during pregnancy. One such vital vitamin is Vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid which plays an important role not only to keep you healthy during pregnancy but also helps normal people to lead a healthy life. It works in converting food into energy. We will walk you through the importance of Vitamin B5 during pregnancy, what pantothenic acid is, what are the sources of this essential vitamin and more.
In This Article
- What is Pantothenic Acid?
- Why is Vitamin B5 Necessary During Pregnancy?
- What Will Happen if You Don’t Get Enough Vitamin B5 During Pregnancy?
- How Much Vitamin B5 do Pregnant Women Need?
- Best Foods With Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) During Pregnancy
- Is Pantothenic Acid (vitamin B5) Supplement Good During Pregnancy?
- FAQ’s
What is Pantothenic Acid?
It comes under the category of water-soluble Vitamin B complex and is considered an essential nutrient. The combination of pantoic acid and β-alanine results in Pantothenic acid. The origin of this word is from the Greek word “pantos” which means “from everywhere” and as this vitamin is nearly available in almost every category of food, this is named Pantothenic acid. Whatever food we consume needs to be converted to energy and Pantothenic acid plays a big role in this conversion.
Why is Vitamin B5 Necessary During Pregnancy?
Pantothenic acid is a vital element required for pregnant women. There are several benefits of Pantothenic acid.
- During pregnancy, women usually face a deficiency of RBC (Red Blood Corpuscle) and this vitamin is critical for the generation of red blood cells.
- It promotes the secretion of stress-relieving hormones.
- Pantothenic acid helps to generate energy by synthesizing cholesterol and metabolizing carbohydrates and fats in our body.
- It is beneficial to avoid muscle cramps which are common during pregnancy.
- This vitamin is also excellent in helping in recovery from skin wounds.
What Will Happen if You Don’t Get Enough Vitamin B5 During Pregnancy?
Vitamin B5 or Pantothenic acid is a common vitamin that is found in almost every food. A healthy diet is enough to provide your body with the required amount of this vitamin.
Though it is very rare to find vitamin B5 deficiency in pregnant women, it can cause severe problems. In case of severe malnutrition, a deficiency of Pantothenic acid is found in the body. Some of the major problems caused by less than recommended amount of vitamin B5 are depression, fatigue, pain in the stomach, insomnia, feet irritation, vomiting, or nausea. Also, in some cases, Vitamin B5 shortage can cause upper respiratory infections.
How Much Vitamin B5 do Pregnant Women Need?
Due to its great health benefits, Pantothenic acid is vital for the good health of the mother as well as for the development of the baby inside. Even after birth, while you are breastfeeding, you need more vitamin B5.
According to the Nation Institutes of Health, below is the recommended level of Vitamin B5.
- For pregnant women: 6 milligrams per day
- For breastfeeding mothers: 7 milligrams per day
- Non-pregnant women: 5 milligrams per day
Always consult your doctor or OBGYN before adding vitamin B5 to your diet. Like all other nutrients, the recommended consumption of Pantothenic acid varies as per age and other parameters.
Best Foods With Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) During Pregnancy
As per the study by NIH, almost every food contains some amount of Pantothenic Acid in it. But it varies based on some parameters like animal-based or plant-based food. Beef, chicken, and organ meats are some of the animal-based sources of Pantothenic acid whereas whole grains, and some vegetables are plant-based sources. Studies also discovered that Vitamin B5 is found in high concentrations in edible animal and plant tissues. However, during the processing like boiling, milling, canning, and freezing, a major amount of this vitamin vanishes.
Here are some of the major sources of Vitamin B5.
- Beef liver
- Peanuts
- Avocados
- Cheese
- Breakfast cereals
- Broccoli
- Milk
- Carrots
- Shitake mushrooms
- Whole-wheat pita
- Mushrooms
- Cabbage
- Sunflower seeds
- Chickpeas
- Potatoes
- Clementine
- Chicken
- Rice
- Egg
- Tomatoes
- Tuna
- Oats
- Greek yogurt
- Cherry tomatoes
- Ground beef
- Apples
Is Pantothenic Acid (vitamin B5) Supplement Good During Pregnancy?
Vitamin B5 is one of the most common vitamins available almost in every natural food item. Therefore, it is very rare to hear about the deficiency of Pantothenic Acid and there is no need to take Vitamin B5 supplements.
Only in case of severe malnutrition do doctors recommend Vitamin B5 supplements. Some of the symptoms of Pantothenic acid deficiency are depression, fatigue, pain in the stomach, insomnia, feet irritation, vomiting, or nausea.
Vitamin B5 or Pantothenic acid is an essential element that our body needs for healthy functioning. And while you are pregnant, you must plan for healthy food habits to take care of your health and nurture the little one inside you. While an optimum or recommended consumption brings benefits to the body, the excess dose can cause adverse effects. A healthy food habit is enough to provide you with the recommended amount of Pantothenic acid.
FAQ’s
1. Is it Essential to Take Vitamin B5 Supplements During Pregnancy?
A pregnant woman needs only 6 milligrams of Vitamin B5 per day which can be mitigated by a daily healthy diet. Moreover, according to a survey, deficiency of Pantothenic acid is extremely rare. Hence, usually, there is no need to take Vitamin B5 supplements.
2. What Are The Effects of Excess Consumption of Vitamin B5?
The recommended amount of Pantothenic acid for pregnant women is 6 milligrams per day. Any amount more than 10 mg is considered a high dose that may cause diarrhoea, heartburn or nausea, or dehydration. During pregnancy, such health issues can cause critical problems.
3. What Are The Benefits of Vitamin B5 During Pregnancy?
Pantothenic acid is beneficial during your pregnancy in several ways.
- It helps your body to produce RBC(Red Blood Corpuscle) which is very important during pregnancy.
- Pantothenic acid boosts the secretion of stress-relieving hormones that help you to stay relaxed.
- It helps to convert food into energy.
- Enough Vitamin B5 consumption helps to keep muscle cramps away.
