Vitamin B5 is also called pantothenic acid, but in addition to this, it may also be labeled on vitamin supplements as “calcium pantothenate”. This last term is the more technical name which describes the molecular compound you are actually taking. Basically, whenever you are taking vitamin B5 in solid form, you can bet there is some calcium present. The calcium helps to stabilize the molecule in a solid state.
This added calcium has raised concerns among some acne sufferers who turn to vitamin B5 acne treatment. After all, if you’re taking a large dose of vitamin B5, that means you may also be taking in a lot of calcium. Too much calcium can put a strain on your kidneys, potentially leading to kidney stones and other complications.
So how big is this risk, and can it be prevented? Let’s take a look at the facts.
The calcium present in vitamin B5 usually accounts for about 10% of the formulation. So if you were to take 3,000 mg (3g) per day of vitamin B5 (which is the recommended Clear5 starting dosage), that would mean a calcium intake of approximately 300 mg. That’s about the same amount of calcium as in one glass of milk. For most age groups, the recommended daily allowance of calcium is at least 1,000 mg. Even doses slightly above the RDA are generally safe. Doses known to cause kidney problems are usually in the range of 3+ times the RDA.
As such, unless you’re taking an extremely high dose of vitamin B5, the health risk is very small. Even a mega-dose intake of 10,000 mg may not present much risk if your diet is light on dairy products. In fact, many individuals may actually benefit from the added calcium.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be cautious. The best protection against problems related to excess calcium is to do something you probably should be doing anyways: drinking plenty of water. Whether you’re taking B5 or not, it’s always a good idea to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day. This flushes out excess calcium and other unwanted substances from your kidneys (and elsewhere), and promotes the overall health of your body.
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