Pantothenic acid deficiency as the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris.

Leung LH

Department of General Surgery, Hong Kong Central Hospital, Hong Kong.

For years, the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris has been known to be strongly influenced by hormonal factors. However, the exact role of and the interrelationship among the various hormones in question have not been well elucidated. Here, I wish to suggest a radically different theory for its pathogenesis and relate its basic pathology to a deficiency in pantothenic acid, a vitamin hitherto not known to cause any deficiency syndrome in humans. Hence, the effect of hormonal factors in this disease entity becomes secondary to that of the availability of pantothenic acid. A complete cure of this condition is effected by a very liberal replacement therapy with the vitamin.

Ok great, B-5 reduces acne quite well.

And, keto dieters check this out:

Pantothenic acid as a weight-reducing agent: fasting without hunger, weakness and ketosis.

Leung LH

Department of General Surgery, Hong Kong Central Hospital.

With the conventional method of fasting or aggressive dieting to reduce excess body fat, hunger, weakness, ketogenesis and ketosis are the sequential events that follow. It is not fully understood why, under conditions of negative calorie balance where complete energy release from storage fat is critical, ketosis should arise with a concomitant wastage of energy. Here, I wish to propose a theory that relates the formation of ketone bodies under such conditions to a deficiency in dietary pantothenic acid. Supplementation of this vitamin would facilitate complete catabolism of fatty acids and thus the formation of ketone bodies could be circumvented. As a result, a sufficient amount of energy would be released from storage fat to relieve dieters of the sensation of hunger and weakness which otherwise would be difficult to endure. Hence, using this method for weight reduction together with a careful observation of calorie intake, I have great success in treating overweight-to-obese patients to lose weight.

So, B-5 is a great supplement for keto/lo-carb dieters.

And here is the bad news:

Panthenol and glucocorticoids.

Fidanaza A, Floridi S, Lenti L

Urinary metabolites of glucocorticoids have been measured in man before and after administration of panthenol in high doses. The quantitative assay was performed according to the technique of Porter and Silber which measures only cortisol and some of its metabolites. In all panthenol treated subjects a significant increase in the urinary excretion of 17-alpha-21-dihydroxy-20-keto steroids has been observed and it appeared to be higher in male ageing between 18 and 25. The results obtained confirm that a statistically significant increase in glucocorticoid production after panthenol administration in high doses is present also in man.

PMID: 7317179, UI: 82091483

and more bad news:

[Adrenal cortex functional activity in pantothenate deficiency and the administration of the vitamin or its derivatives].

[Article in Russian]

Tarasov IuA, Sheibak VM, Moiseenok AG

Study of the corticosteroid content in the adrenals and blood of rats under pantothenate deficiency has demonstrated a decrease in adrenocortical function. A single administration of pantothenate in a dose of 3.3 mg/kg reduced the influence of hypovitaminosis on the adrenals. The pantothenate derivatives (pantethine, 4'-phosphopantothenate and CoA in particular) injected to intact animals in a single dose equimolar to 3.3 mg/kg calcium pantothenate per kg bw had a marked steroidogenous effect.

PMID: 4060684, UI: 86046149

So, what this basically says is that a Vit B5 deficiency will lower cortisol but probably increase acne levels due to deficiency. However, if one were to take mega doses, one would increase cortisol but lower acne levels. So, what we have to find out is a dose that would give the best thrapeutic effect for acne while just elevating cortisol somewhat.

Opinions on the optimal dose anyone?