Vitamin B5, which is pantothenic acid, is found in both plants and animals. Sources of vitamin B5 include meat, vegetables, cereal grains, legumes, eggs and milk. Vitamin B5 has been used for a laundry list of medical conditions, including hair loss, but there is not enough scientific evidence to know if vitamin B5 is effective against hair loss.
Uses of Vitamin B5
As Medline Plus, the website of the U.S. Library of Medicine states, vitamin B5 has been used to treat a wide range of conditions that include dietary deficiencies, acne, alcoholism, allergies, attention deficit disorder, autism, heart failure, carpal tunnel disorder, celiac disease, dandruff, depression, diabetic nerve pain, headache, low blood sugar, Parkinson's disease and insomnia, among many others. The list also includes baldness and gray hair.
Efffectiveness of Vitamin B5
Vitamin B5 is effective for, logically enough, treating or preventing pantothenic acid deficiency. It is possibly ineffective for skin reactions from radiation therapy. There is "Insufficient evidence to rate effectiveness" of vitamin B5 for conditions ranging from alcoholism, allergies, skin problems, attention deficit disorder, arthritis, heart problems, lung disorders, depression, headache, insomnia, and a number of other conditions. The list of conditions that have shown "insufficient evidence to rate effectiveness" includes hair loss and dandruff.
Hair Loss
According to the Mayo Clinic, heredity is a likely cause of some types of hair loss, such as pattern baldness. Permanent hair loss can also occur from inflammation damage to the hair follicles. Alopecia, another type of hair loss, is caused by an autoimmune disease with no known cause. A shock to the system, caused by physical or mental trauma, can produce changes in the natural growth cycle of hair and cause hair loss. Medications, poor nutrition and disease can also result in hair loss.
Hair Loss and B Vitamins
A deficiency of the B vitamin folic acid has been linked with gray hair, according to the Mayo Clinic. According to HolisticOnline.com, B vitamins, especially B5 and B3, are important to hair growth, although the studies cited in the article are confined to rat research rather than research on human subjects.
Although the jury is still out regarding the usefulness of B vitamins in general and B5 in particular for hair loss, the Mayo Clinic does state that hair loss can be caused by nutritional deficiencies. A deficiency of B vitamins also can have a major impact on your health, so it makes sense to consume the recommended daily amount of vitamin B, even it it doesn't prevent hair loss.
Considerations
Vitamin B5 is considered "Likely Safe" for most people when used appropriately. The recommended daily dose for adults is 5mg. Larger amounts seem to be safe, but side effects of larger doses can include diarrhea.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, don't exceed the recommended doses. Hemophiliacs should not take supplements of vitamin B5; it may make bleeding harder to stop.
There are no known interactions between vitamin B5 and other medications. But before taking vitamin B5 or any other supplement, talk with your doctor.
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