Compound Deep-Dive

Tier 1: MainstreamEssential for basic health and effective for oily skin at high doses, but megadosing requires caution regarding GI health.

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)

PantothenateCalcium PantothenateD-Pantothenic Acid

Essential metabolism and skin support

Hype Risk

3/10

Noticeability

6/10

Evidence Tier

Strong

Cost / Month

~$5

Underdosed in multivitamins

What it's actually good for

Energy

Research Supported

Essential cofactor for Coenzyme A, which is required to convert food into cellular energy.

Recovery

Mixed Evidence

Some evidence suggests high doses may support skin barrier recovery and reduce acne lesions.

Focus: neutralSleep: neutralMuscle: neutralLongevity: neutralMood: neutralImmunity: neutral

How it works

Vitamin B5 is an essential nutrient required for the synthesis of Coenzyme A, which is central to energy metabolism and fatty acid breakdown. While deficiency is rare, high-dose supplementation is frequently used for acne management with moderate clinical support.

B5 is a precursor to Coenzyme A (CoA), a vital cofactor for the Krebs cycle and the synthesis of fatty acids, cholesterol, and neurotransmitters.

Safety

Very high doses (10g+) are associated with diarrhea and gastrointestinal distress.
Megadosing may compete with Biotin (B7) for absorption via the shared SMVT transporter.

The full StackRoast report adds

The exact dose, timing, and effective range to actually run it at
Where people go wrong with it — the dose-creep and timing traps
What Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) clashes with or duplicates in your stack
Which brands are actually worth buying

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Community Reality Check

Distilled from 450 threads

Confidence: high

What users report

Significant reduction in skin oiliness
Clearance of cystic acne
Improved metabolic energy

The catch

Severe diarrhea at therapeutic doses
Fear of hair loss from Biotin competition
Large pill burden for acne protocols

Side effects reported

Diarrhea
Stomach cramps
Dry skin

https://www.reddit.com/r/Supplementshttps://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction

The Receipts

9 sources— studies, videos & links

Videos

Vitamin B5: The Energy Vitamin

Thomas DeLauer

Explains the role of B5 in fatty acid oxidation and Coenzyme A production.

Dermatologist on Vitamin B5 for Acne

Dr. Dray

A clinical perspective on using high-dose B5 for skin health and its safety profile.

Papers

Yang et al. 2014rct2014

A 12-week RCT found that 2.2g of B5 daily significantly reduced facial acne lesions compared to placebo.

Jung et al. 2021review2021

Review of B5's role in skin barrier function and its potential as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory skin conditions.

Creators

Thomas DeLauer

YouTube

Frequently covers B-vitamins in the context of fat metabolism and cellular energy.

Dr. Dray

YouTube

Board-certified dermatologist who provides evidence-based reviews of skin supplements.

Clinical Sources

NIH ODS Pantothenic Acid Fact Sheetofficial Examine: Pantothenic Acidclinical Yang et al. (2014) Acne Studyclinical

Taking Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) in a stack? Find out if the combination actually makes sense.

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