Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin B5 (calcium pantothenate)
For the health condition: Burning Feet or Hands
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Vitamin B5 (calcium pantothenate) has a traditional history of use in supporting or treating symptoms such as burning feet or hands, largely stemming from early 20th-century observations. The "burning feet syndrome" was described during and after World War II, particularly among prisoners of war and populations suffering from malnutrition. Early reports noted that diets severely deficient in B vitamins, including pantothenic acid, were associated with symptoms like burning sensations in the extremities, numbness, and paresthesia. Supplementation with B vitamins, including B5, sometimes led to improvement in these symptoms, which contributed to its traditional use for this condition. However, contemporary clinical trials directly assessing the efficacy of vitamin B5 for burning feet or hands are scarce or lacking. Most of the evidence comes from case reports, observational studies, and nutritional repletion in deficiency states rather than controlled studies in well-nourished populations. As a result, current scientific validation is limited, and its use is primarily supported by historical and anecdotal evidence rather than robust clinical research. Most modern guidelines for burning feet or neuropathic pain now focus on identifying and treating underlying causes—such as diabetes, vitamin B12 deficiency, or nerve entrapment—rather than recommending vitamin B5 supplementation. Therefore, while there is a plausible historical rationale for its use, strong scientific evidence is lacking.
More about Vitamin B5 (calcium pantothenate)
More about Burning Feet or Hands
Other health conditions supported by Vitamin B5 (calcium pantothenate)
AcneBurning Feet or Hands
Canker Sores
Convalescence
Dermatitis
Hair (loss or thinning)
Stress
Wounds and Sores