Pantethine supplement information, health benefit, side effects, dosage
June 20 2017 by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Pantethine is a combination of the vitamin pantothenic acid and the low-molecular-weight aminothiol cysteamine. It is the biologically active form of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5). Pantothenic acid is composed of a single molecule, whereas pantethine consists of two pantothenic acid molecules linked by a cysteamine bridging group. When ingested, pantethine is hydrolyzed into cysteamine and pantothenic Acid. Cysteamine plays a role in supporting a healthy metabolism of cholesterol and triglycerides.

Pantethine vs pantothenic acid, which to take?
At this time, with little human research, it is difficult to know which form is best suited or more beneficial.

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Clinical indications, why take it
There's still much research to be done before any recommendations can be made, however, early research indicates that:

Pantethine may help lower cholesterol and other lipid levels
May improve fatty liver (see below)
Pantethine may enhance cognitive abilities
May increase energy levels.

Pantethine is part of coenzyme A, a very important substance that participates in the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, fatty acids and dozens of other important chemical reactions. Cognitive effects of oral administration to humans are not well understood. Pantethine is sold over the counter in dosages ranging from 5 to 50 mg. In my limited self-experimentation, I have found that a lower dose provides similar effects as a higher dose of pantothenic acid.

J Nutr Sci Vitaminol 2013. D-pantethine has vitamin activity equivalent to d-pantothenic acids for recovering from a deficiency of d-pantothenic Acid in rats. Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Human Cultures, The University of Shiga Prefecture. J Nutr Sci D-Pantethine is a compound in which two molecules of D-pantetheine bind through an S-S linkage. D-Pantethine is available from commercial sources as well as from D-pantothenic acid.

Research studies
Hypolipidemic effect of pantothenic acid derivatives (including pantethine) in mice with hypothalamic obesity induced by aurothioglucose.
Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2001.
The hypolipidemic effects of pantothenic acid derivatives (phosphopantothenate, panthenol and pantethine) were studied in mice with hypothalamic obesity. Hypothalamic obesity in mice was induced by single injection of aurothioglucose (300 mg/kg body wt, i.p.). All the tested substances were administered during the last 10 days before decapitation (i.m., of dosage equivalent to 150 mg/kg body wt of phosphopantothenate). The studied substances inhibited the weight gain of the animals with hypothalamic obesity over the last 10 days of the experiment. The treatment with aurothioglucose increased food intake and mean body weight, blood glucose level; insulin, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, the sum of LDL + VLDL and LDL-cholesterol concentration; triglyceride and cholesterol fractions in the liver; triglyceride and FFA content as well as lipoprotein lipase activity in adipose tissue of experimental mice. The administration of the assay compounds lowered food intake and mean body weight, insulin and glucose levels and decreased the content of triglycerides, total cholesterol and cholesterol esters in serum and adipose tissue as well as raised the activity of lipoprotein lipase in adipose tissue and serum lipolytic activity in obese mice. Among the compounds studied the reverse effect of panthenol was especially pronounced. The mechanism of hypolipidemic effects of pantothenic acid derivatives can be related to the reduced resistance to insulin and activation of lipolysis in serum and adipose tissue.

Pantethine and fatty liver
The effects of pantethine on fatty liver and fat distribution.
J Atheroscler Thrombosis. 2000.
Although the prognosis of fatty liver depends on its causes, we feel from our clinical experience that fatty liver with hypertriglyceridemia has a good prognosis and responds well to treatment. In this study, 600 mg/day of pantethine was administered to 16 outpatients with fatty liver and hypertriglyceridemia for six months or longer to examine whether the drug improved fatty liver using abdominal plain computed tomography (CT). Nine of the 16-pantethine patients were no longer diagnosed as having fatty liver after the study period. An chi2 test indicated the significant disappearance of fatty liver. At the same time, the visceral fat calculated from the CT image passing the umbilical region was also significantly reduced. On the contrary, the subcutaneous fat area tended to increase, so the ratio of the visceral-to-subcutaneous fat area was reduced significantly. This indicates triglycerides may be pooled in the body as hepato-visceral fat and subcutaneous fat, and that pantethine may transfer fat from the liver and viscera to the subcutaneous tissue. This suggests that visceral fat deposition and fatty liver occurring with hypertriglyceridemia may have a common basis, probably excessive matrixes, and that pantethine may simultaneously improve the two conditions.

Emails
Q. I wonder why you suggest that 25 to 50 mg of pantethine may be sufficient when the study you cite used 600 mg to reverse fatty liver.
   A. We have learned from experience that high doses cause side effects. Researchers do a study for a brief period of time, but when the consumer takes these high dosages for prolonged periods, problems could occur or the biochemical system of the body may go out of balance.

After reading your article, wife took 25 mg oral under tongue Pantethine on 1-18 2010. Three days later bowel movement increased to 4 times a day. Not the runs or bloating feeling. stools still firm. and small in size, like deer pellets. Has diabetes and trying to lower trigs from 500 level. I told her to take one every other day to
see what happens. Been tracking everything she does as if she was in the lab as an experiment Was basic researcher for 40 years in lab and pilot plant R & D. Retired now, but still dabble in experimental work. What I did notice with her, it does not matter whether statins or alternative means to lower cholesterol and Trigs, it always raises her blood sugar readings. Some more than others. Seems they both take the same path through the liver. Whether red yeast rice, lovanza or other
means to reduce Trigs or Cholesterol, blood sugar always rises. Remove them and slowly blood sugar drops. Taking Pantethine it stays same but is very slowly dropping a little. At least it's not going up over 200 fasting. her A1c is hanging 6.86 for the last three months and remains pretty steady even after taking Pantethine. Will let you know in 30 days if this dietary supplement drops cholesterol and triglycerides and what the sugar does. A few days later: Still taking 25 mg pantethine. seemed an anomoly as bowel movement problem went away, sugar is dropping. at least for now. in my records back to 2003, I had used pantethine at 900 mg level on my own research and she had no problem and that was in pill form. I am taking the lipid test later this month. Update: Well we have a problem. Just before April 6 the last time I talked to you her blood sugar in the morning was lower than it had been and in the after noon it was down to 110 So I upped to 50 mg a day as the trigs came down but Cholesterol rose. Now after 7 days the sugar is up to 182 morning fast and afternoon it is 133. The increase in PM reading is what bothers me and has to be the same channel in the liver that messes with the sugar. They are tied together no matter what she uses to control Cholesterol. Be it Lovaza Statins, cholester block which is beta sistosterol. So increasing the pantethine does mess with her sugar. So I am cutting it back to 25 to see cause and effect, and see if it drops. she might have to live with high trigs or suffer high blood sugar which is just as bad. A1c before the 6th was 6.04 after 7 days on 50 mg pantethine it is climbing and is 6.6

You say pantethine in lower doses 25mg to 50mg is sufficient for results rather than 300 to 900mg. Is this true?
    I prefer to use lower dosages and only take higher ones if the lower dosages are not effective.

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Source Naturals, buy Pantethine, 300 mg, 30 Tablets
Buy Pantethine 300 mg

Dosage: One capsule in the morning a few times a week or as needed.

Pantethine 25 mg, 60 Tablets - Source Naturals
This sublingual precursor to coenzyme B-5 (also called coenzyme A) goes directly into your bloodstream in its active form, ready to go to work immediately.  This avoids loss that may occur not only during digestion, but during the liver's conversion process as well. Pantethine itself is a combination of pantothenic acid (vitamin B-5) and beta mercaptoethylamine.

Suggested Use:  1 tablet in the morning, or as recommended by your health care professional. Place tablet under the tongue and allow to dissolve slowly, altering the position of the tablet to avoid prolonged contact with the same area. 

Supplement Facts:
Pantethine (coenzyme B-5 precursor) -  25 mg

Q. I am trying to locate a source for low dosage panthethine (no longer available at Source Naturals).
   A. The best option is to try a portion of a tablet of capsule.