Pantethine can boost heart health for senior patients

High cholesterol or cardiovascular disease can be helped by pantethine, the metabolically active part of vitamin B5 also known as pantothenic acid

The anti-aging and heart health market captures a substantial part of the overall wellness market, estimated to be approximately $216 billion for this year. This increased emphasis on anti-aging products can be, in large part, attributed to the substantial size of the combined 76 million Baby Boomer (born between 1946-64) and 65 million Generation X (1965-80) populations, looking for anti-aging supplements such as pantethine.

Supplements targeted at chronic conditions common among older patients, such as high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease, are an excellent way to both help your patients stay healthy and boost your bottom line. Pantethine, which is the metabolically active part of vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), is an excellent example of one such supplement.

How does pantethine work?

Pantethine is metabolized in the body to be the biologically active substance in vitamin B5 and works with a number of enzymes in the body – most significantly, acetyl-Coenzyme A (CoA) – involved with processing fats and carbohydrates.

By increasing CoA levels in the body’s cells, pantethine can improve the body’s metabolism of lipoproteins, thereby improving cholesterol levels.^1,2 Although it is true that vitamin B5 can improve cardiovascular health, pantethine has a much stronger effect, as it focuses specifically on those enzymes that modulate fats and carbohydrates.

Pantethine and cardiac health

An article published in the journal Vascular Health and Risk Management examined the effects of pantethine on several cardiovascular risk markers.³ A group of 32 patients, at low to moderate risk of cardiovascular disease, received either pantethine (600 mg/day from weeks 1-8, and then 900 mg/day from weeks 9-16) or placebo. All patients fit the criteria necessary for being prescribed statins, the most common medication used to lower high cholesterol levels.³

At the end of eight weeks, those patients taking pantethine had decreased levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol levels, compared to patients taking placebo.³ By week 16, patients taking pantethine showed a significant decrease in both LDL and total cholesterol levels. Furthermore, pantethine supplementation decreased LDL cholesterol levels by 11% at week 16, while LDL levels increased by 3% with placebo.

Furthermore, pantethine did not lower Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which often happens with statins. Instead, patients taking pantethine showed increasing CoQ10 levels, starting at week 4 and continuing until the end of the study at week 16.

The researchers concluded, “Supplementation with pantethine may therefore be considered as an optional adjunctive therapy for patients with low to moderate CVD risk.”³

Today’s Boomers and Gen Xers are more active and making better decisions about their wellness than did their parents. Supplements such as pantethine, which can help manage chronic conditions often associated with aging, can help them on their wellness journey.

References

1. Rumberger JA, Napolitano J, Azumano I, et al. Pantethine, a derivative of vitamin B(5) used as a nutritional supplement, favorably alters low-density lipoprotein cholesterol metabolism in low- to moderate-cardiovascular risk North American subjects: A triple-blinded placebo and diet-controlled investigation. Nutritional Research. 2011 Aug;31(8):608-15.
2. [No authors listed]. Monograph. Alternative Medicine Review. 2010 Sep;15(3):279-82.
3. Evans M, Rumberger JA, Azumano I, et al. Pantethine, a derivative of vitamin B5, favorably alters total, LDL and non-HDL cholesterol in low to moderate cardiovascular risk subjects eligible for statin therapy: A triple-blinded placebo and diet-controlled investigation. Vascular Health and Risk Management. 2014;10:89-100.