Why biochemists did not designate the B factor, calcium pantothenate, by number instead of its name, no one knows. Its name is a tongue twister to those who are familiar with it. How others know how to pronounce it is a puzzle.
Calcium pantothenate created more furor and fever than any other vitamin which has been isolated. It was declared a gray hair restorative. That was enough for women all over the world. They paid five dollars or more per hundred, and the race to manufacture began. However, it fizzeled. It did not pan out for the human race.
In fairness to the people who first produced calcium pantothenate and started its gray-hair usage, we would like to report that actual experiment upon rats did warrant the idea of a gray hair miracle. This vitamin withheld from black-haired rats caused their hair to turn gray. Given calcium pantothenate, the gray hair of the rat returned to its black color in very short time. However, it is not reported that rats whose hair was already gray from age were restored to black color; if so, the report did not indicate this fact. This could have been due to an oversight caused by enthusiasm. The fact is, millions of gray haired people are still gray after taking calcium pantothenate.
Now, other experiments upon rats proved that the withdrawal of another vitamin B factor, para-aminobenzoic acid, would cause the black hair of the rat to turn gray, and the use of this vitamin would restore the color. This left the B factors very much up in the air as gray hair restoratives.
Nevertheless, there is a certain result in the restoration of hair color if sufficient B Complex be taken over a long period of time.
Any B Complex, made with a brewer’s yeast base containing para-aminobenzoic acid, and at least ten milligrams of calcium pantothenate, will give some people a restored hair color if they are taken three to four doses a day over a period of nine months to a year. Then, this gray hair must have been caused by these vitamin B deficiencies, and not from nervous worry or fright. In other words, approximately thirty-five percent of the people, with gray hair, may get results.
The real use of calcium pantothenate is a catalytic agent. Like B6, calcium pantothenate aids the muscles to absorb protein and retain their elasticity. It also aids the liver in its use of choline so that fatty liver does not develop. The lack of calcium pantothenate has been reported a cause for animal gastritis, and other digestive disorders.
One biochemist reports the lack of adrenalin formation due to insufficient calcium pantothenate. Such a condition could cause weakened muscle tissue and nervous upset.
Calcium pantothenate, no doubt, will take its place as one of the causative agents of B Complex in assisting other vitamins in the performance of their duty. Remember, this jack of all trades, in the vitamin family, is a handy man. You not only need him but will appreciate what he does. Therefore, see that you eat foods which contain this vitamin, or take B Complex. It is found in yeast, liver, leafs, and vegetables.