Calcium phosphate and calcium pantothenate share one important characteristic: they're both nutrients important for maintaining a healthy body. Beyond that, they have more differences than similarities. One is a hard mineral while the other is a water-soluble vitamin and the roles they play in the body are very different.
Calcium Phosphate
Calcium phosphate refers to a group of minerals that contain calcium and different types of phosphates. In a form called hydroxyapatite, it is a major structural component of bone and teeth. Together with calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, calcium lactate and calcium gluconate, calcium phosphate is a form of calcium used in supplements. Each form contains a different amount of calcium. Calcium phosphate provides less elemental calcium than calcium citrate or calcium carbonate. Calcium phosphate is also used in dental products and as a stabilizer and thickener in foods.
Calcium Pantothenate
Calcium pantothenate is more commonly called pantothenic acid, or vitamin B-5. This water-soluble vitamin is part of a coenzyme that is essential to chemical reactions in the body that generate energy and create cholesterol, hormones and neurotransmitters. Vitamin B-5 is needed for the production of melatonin, which regulates sleep and influences mood and hormones. It's necessary for the synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and the iron-carrying component of hemoglobin. Without calcium pantothenate, fatty acids that are essential for nerve transmission, cell membranes and normal physiological functioning, could not be produced. Vitamin B-5 is found in fish, chicken, eggs, milk, broccoli, lentils and sweet potatoes.
Medical Benefits
Oral pantothenic acid and the application of pantothenol ointment to the skin have been shown to accelerate wound healing and increase the strength of scar tissue in animals; however, more research is needed before it can be recommended for human use, reports the Linus Pauling Institute. You can use calcium phosphate as a laxative or antacid.
Considerations
When using a calcium supplement, be sure the amount of calcium on the label represents the amount of elemental calcium. Do not take calcium supplements within 1 to 2 hours of taking other medications or eating high-fiber foods. Only a limited amount of calcium can be absorbed efficiently, so it's best to take no more than 500 mg at one time, according to the University of Arizona.
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