Study: Vitamin B5 Ingredient Lowers LDL Cholesterol

Pantesin, a highly absorbable vitamin B5 (pantethine) from Kyowa Hakko (New York City), may significantly lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in humans, according to research published in the journal Nutrition Research.

For 16 weeks, 120 participants with low to moderate risk of heart disease were assigned to 600 mg of Pantesin or an equivalent placebo daily. By the end of the study, the Pantesin group experienced an average 4 mg/dL reduction of LDL cholesterol compared to the placebo group.

While such a change may seem small at plain sight, the researchers noted that “for each 1 mg reduction in LDL cholesterol, there is a concomitant 1% reduction in overall future cardiovascular disease risk.”