Lexicon: P
Pantothenic acid
The pantothenic acid molecule consists of pantoic acid and the amino acid β-alanine. In addition to the acid, the alcohol (R)-pantothenol is also biologically active. The acid is relatively unstable, which is why the Na+ or Ca2+ salts or the alcohol are usually used.
In tissue, pantothenic acid is used to build coenzyme A (CoA). The biological effects of pantothenic acid are therefore universal, as CoA is involved in countless reactions.