Pantethine

Pantethine

What is it?

• Pantethine is made in the body from pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5). It func-tions as an important precursor for Coenzyme A which assists carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in the body [123, 124].

How it works in the body?

• Pantethine and cysteamine work together to inhibit acetyl-coenzyme (COA) carboxylase and HMG-CoA reductase. This inhibitory effect increases Coenzyme A within the cells and therefore alters lipoprotein metabolism. The exact mechanisms for how pantethine lowers cholesterol is still unknown.

What is it used for?

• When pantethine is taken as a supplement, it can help to lower cholesterol. triglycerides and reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. It has also been theorized that pantethine could act as a neuroprotective agent or have a positive effect on Alzheimer's.

Evidence for or against its different uses:

• Cholesterol/triglycerides/cardiovascular disease: A study conducted in 2011 followed 120 subjective who are at low to medium risk of cardiovascular disease. One group supplemented with 600 mg pantethine per day for 8 weeks and then increased to 900 mg/day for another 8 weeks. The other group received placebo pills. All subjects followed a similar diet. Those in the experimental group had a significant lowering of triglycerides and LDL. More research on a grand scale is needed to confirm this.

• Alzheimer's: Studies on the neurological and cognitive effect of pantethine requires further research on human subjects before becoming a recommended line of therapy for brain function.

• Fatty liver.: Small trials have shown positive effects on fatty liver with 6 months of pantethine supplementation. This goes hand in hand with its effects of triglycerides and cholesterol. Larger clinical trials are needed.

Medication interactions:

• No drug interactions listed.

Dosage:

• Clinical trials have seen therapeutic effects with 600-900 mg/day.

Safety concerns/side effects/precautions:

• Pantethine is known to be a fragile supplement; it must be kept refrigerated to prevent breakdown.

• Pantethine can cause diarrhea and elevated liver enzymes.