| Definition | Pantothenic acid, also known as (R)-pantothenate or vitamin B5, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as secondary alcohols. Secondary alcohols are compounds containing a secondary alcohol functional group, with the general structure HOC(R)(R') (R,R'=alkyl, aryl). Pantothenic acid is an extremely weak basic (essentially neutral) compound (based on its pKa). Pantothenic acid exists in all living species, ranging from bacteria to humans. In humans, pantothenic acid is involved in the metabolic disorder called the gaba-transaminase deficiency pathway. Outside of the human body, Pantothenic acid has been detected, but not quantified in, several different foods, such as alaska blueberries, celery stalks, common cabbages, american cranberries, and tarragons. This could make pantothenic acid a potential biomarker for the consumption of these foods. A pantothenic acid having R-configuration. |
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