Because some pantothenic acid is present in almost all foods, deficiency is rare except in people with severe malnutrition, and it usually comes with deficiencies of other nutrients. The only people known to have developed it were fed diets with virtually no B5 or given a drug that blocks it.
Common symptoms
Numbness and burning of the hands and feet
Headache
Fatigue
Irritability and restlessness
Disturbed sleep
Digestive upset with loss of appetite
At-risk groups
People with severe malnutrition, usually alongside other nutrient deficiencies
People with a PANK2 gene mutation (pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration, a rare inherited disorder)
When to see a doctorBecause B5 deficiency is so rare, symptoms such as numbness, burning feet or fatigue usually have another cause, such as other nutrient deficiencies or nerve problems. A doctor can look for the actual cause.