Are vitamins safe for you? What about your kids, and your elderly parents? Read on about how vitamin supplements work and who can take them for optimal health.

There are many essential vitamins that our bodies require in order to function properly. Some we make ourselves, some require input from food sources, and some come entirely from food or other sources (vitmain d from the sun, for instance).

While it is best to get many essential vitamins from healthy food sources, it is also possible, and often advised, to ensure you get your recommended daily allowance of minerals and vitamins by consuming a daily vitamin supplement. Unfortunately, the majority of people do not have a balanced diet and they may be lacking in certain vitamins, meaning that they require a vitamin supplement to ensure that they do not have a deficiency of an essential vitamin. Additionally, many of our foods are grown in nutrient-deficient soil, contain hormones (animal foods) and pesticides, and are shipped and stores in less than ideal conditions. Even cooking some foods can render them devoid of vitamins, and that is if they get to your stove in great condition.

It is important to seek professional advice before taking any vitamin supplement. A health professional or dietary technician is the best person to give advice on any vitamin supplement that you should take. This is because there are some vitamins that can be toxic if too much is consumed, and a vitamin supplement may not be appropriate if there is enough of the vitamin already in the food a person eats. Vitamin supplementation should be based on your specific diet and lifestyle, and balanced accordingly in order to fill in any gaps.

Some people may require more types of vitamin supplement than others. For instance, vegetarians can be deficient in certain vitamins that are only found in animal products, for example, and a vitamin supplement is the ideal solution to this problem. Vegetarians do need to be aware that some vitamin supplement manufacturing processes involve animal products and it is important for them to read the labels. A large number of synthetic vitamin supplement products are available which will enable a vegetarian to take them without compromising their personal beliefs or dietary needs.

Children will often be advised to take a vitamin supplement, especially when they are extremely young. This is because many children are picky eaters, and do not eat a sufficient variety of foods in their early years. A vitamin supplement in the form of a drink, fortified foods or small edible pills of candies (get the most natural versions you can find for their health, both physical and dental) can help compensate for this natural deficiency. Breast feeding has long been recommended as a source of all the essential nutrients, but women who choose not to or are unable to, may be concerned as to whether their baby needs a vitamin supplement. The good news is that the large majority of baby food formulas contain additional vitamins. It is important to discuss any concerns about your baby’s nutritional needs with your child’s pediatrician.

Elderly people or those suffering from certain diseases or illnesses are other groups which may need to take a vitamin supplement, or specific vitamin supplements.

Vitamin B5, also known as Pantothenic Acid, is one of the most prolific of all the vitamins, and is found in some amount in nearly every type of food. In fact, it is virtually impossible for a person to consume less B5 vitamin than they require, meaning that there is little possibility that a person can have a B5 vitamin deficiency. Pantothenic acid is needed to form coenzyme-A (CoA), and is critical in the metabolism and synthesis of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

For this reason, there is actually no recommended daily amount of vitamin b5, as everyone obtains more than enough from their normal food consumption. However, even though there is no need to calculate a recommended daily allowance it does not mean that the B5 vitamin is not vital for a healthy body and mind. In fact,  vitamin B5 vitamin is essential for turning food into energy, amongst other functions. The B5 vitamin is responsible for converting the fats and carbohydrates in our foods into usable energy.*

As mentioned, at least some vitamin b5 can be found in almost every food source, whether it be animal or vegetable. Obviously there are some sources of vitmain B5 which are better than others, however a balanced diet will provide more than enough. The foods with the highest B5 vitamin content are: organ meats, salmon, eggs, beans, milk, and whole grains. It is worth noting that the B5 vitamin is lost when grains are milled into flour, and tends not to added back in. Therefore, processed grain foods such as bread, pasta, rice, breakfast cereal, and baked goods are not good sources of the B5 vitamin.

Vitamin B5, as you might suspect, is a part of B complex of vitamins, and is most effective when it is combined with other B vitamins, especially thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pyridoxine (B6), and biotin. *Along with these other B vitamins, the B5 vitamin plays an integral part in a number of processes. The most important of these is the production of energy from food that is consumed, and this is known as the Kreb’s cycle. The B5 vitamin is also specifically required for releasing energy from fats.

According to our research, doses of 2 grams per day of calcium pantothenate may reduce the duration of morning stiffness, degree of disability, and pain severity in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Although the results are inconsistent, supplementation may also improve oxygen utilization efficiency and reduce lactic acid accumulation in athletes.