PANTOTHENIC ACID

Pantothenic acid is a water soluble vitamin and is very important for animal nutrition

Pantothenic acid is a constituent of two important coenzymes, CoA and ACP. Coenzyme A is found in all tissues and is one of the most important coenzymes for tissue metabolism. The coenzymes are known to be involved in more than 100 different metabolic pathways involving the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids and the synthesis of lipids, neurotransmitters, steroid hormones, porphyrins and hemoglobin. The major lesions of pantothenic acid deficiency for poultry appear to involve the nervous system, adrenal cortex and skin. Pantothenic acid deficiency reduces normal egg production and hatchability. Embryos from panthothenic acid deficient hens have been observed to have subcutanous hemorrhages and severe edema, with most of the mortality showing up during the later part of the incubation period.