The compound PABA is para-aminobenzoic acid, an amino acid that is found in a number of food sources and that is thought to play an important role in a wide variety of metabolic processes. PABA's properties make it useful as a treatment for several medical conditions--like vitiligo, scleroderma and lupus erythematosus--as well as making it an essential component of ultraviolet light-protecting products like sunscreen.
Aspects
PABA is a non-essential amino acid--its presence is not required for proper metabolic functions--that is found abundantly in foods like eggs, rice, spinach, bran, yogurt, liver, wheat germ, brewer's yeast and molasses. PABA, which is also called Vitamin H1, Vitamin B10, padamate O and ABA, can also be synthesized by bacteria within the intestinal tract. PABA deficiency is thought to be a contributing factor to hair graying. When PABA is used as either a dietary supplement or a drug, it may cause fatigue, headache, constipation, depression, irritability and a variety of digestive problems. Extremely high doses of PABA can result in nausea, vomiting, fever, anorexia, skin rashes and liver problems.
Uses
According to the Nutritional Supplements Health Guide, PABA is able to absorb large amounts of ultraviolet rays from the sun; because of this property, the compound is used frequently in sunscreen formulas to prevent skin cancer and sunburn. In addition, PABA is believed to be a strong antioxidant--a compound that may help decrease the risk of health problems like cancer by neutralizing potentially harmful free radicals before they can damage cells. PABA is thought to play an important role in maintaining skin health, reducing the risk of fatigue and depression, facilitating the production of both red blood cells and folic acid and helping with efficient protein metabolism.
Vitiligo Treatment
Vitiligo is a skin condition that occurs when the melanin-producing cells in the skin either die or gradually lose the ability to produce melanin. According to the Mayo Clinic, irregular milky-white patches form on the skin, particularly in areas that are normally exposed to the sun; however, as the condition progresses, tissue within the mouth and the eyes can also lose color and the hair can turn prematurely white or gray. The Natural Supplements Health Guide reports that PABA use is thought to help halt the progress of vitiligo.
Scleroderma Treatment
PABA is also used to treat scleroderma, a condition that causes portions of tissue--either tissue that makes up part of an internal organ or epidermal skin tissue--to become stiff and hard. According to the Mayo Clinic, scleroderma is connected to a number of other medical conditions, including gastroesophageal reflux disease and Raynaud's phenomenon, both of which occur because the tissues involved cannot sense or function appropriately.
Lupus Erythematosus Treatment
Lupus erythematosus, a disease that is characterized by the body's immune system causing widespread inflammation by attacking the body's own skin and organ tissues, is also thought to be responsive to PABA given as a medication. Although the Mayo Clinic reports that cases of lupus may cause different symptoms with different levels of severity, the most common symptoms include fatigue, unexplained weight fluctuations, depression, anxiety, color changes in the fingers and toes, difficulty breathing and skin sores that become worse when exposed to sunlight.
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