Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid, has a long-standing reputation in traditional and naturopathic medicine for supporting the nervous system and helping with symptoms described as "nervous exhaustion." This term, prevalent in early 20th-century and naturopathic literature, refers to a constellation of symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, and poor stress tolerance. The rationale for using Vitamin B5 in this context is based on its role as a precursor to coenzyme A, which is essential in energy metabolism and the synthesis of neurotransmitters. Early proponents posited that B5 deficiency could manifest as fatigue and "adrenal exhaustion," and supplementation was thought to restore vitality. However, scientific evidence supporting the use of Vitamin B5 for nervous exhaustion is limited. While B5 is undeniably essential for overall health and energy production, clinical trials directly examining its impact on symptoms of nervous exhaustion or related stress disorders are lacking. Most existing studies focus on severe deficiency states (which are rare) or generalized energy metabolism, not on the treatment of stress-related or nervous conditions. Thus, its use for nervous exhaustion is primarily justified by tradition and historical practice, with only suggestive but not definitive evidence from basic biochemical studies.

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