Vitamin B5

Pantothenic acid, the backbone of coenzyme A and therefore involved in nearly every metabolic pathway that touches fat, carbohydrate or protein. Its name comes from the Greek for "everywhere", which describes both its role and its distribution in food.

Forms coenzyme A, which is required to metabolise fats, carbohydrate and protein, and to make hormones.

• Almost everything — the name is Greek for "from everywhere"
• Chicken and beef
• Avocado
• Mushrooms
• Sunflower seeds
• Whole grains

5 mg for most adults. The upper limit, past which harm becomes likely, is None established.

Reference intakes are population figures. Pregnancy, illness, age and medication all move an individual’s needs, which is one of several reasons this page is information rather than advice.

Most at risk: Nobody eating any reasonable diet.

Essentially unheard of in isolation, because it is present in almost all foods. Reported only in severe malnutrition and experimental depletion.

Effectively unknown outside of experimental starvation studies, where it caused burning feet and fatigue.

Every sign here has other, often likelier, explanations. A list of symptoms is a reason to look into something, never a diagnosis.

No routine clinical test. Whole blood or urinary pantothenate is used in research settings.

Meat, eggs, dairy, mushrooms, avocado, legumes and wholegrains — which is to say, ordinary food.

Rarely needed alone. Very high doses can cause digestive upset and little else of note.

No known toxicity. Very high doses may cause diarrhoea.