Biotin (vitamin B7) acts as a coenzyme for carboxylation reactions essential to fat and carbohydrate metabolism. Adequate intake for adults is 30 mcg/day.
Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) is widely distributed in foods; it is an essential component of coenzyme A. Adults probably require approximately 5 mg/day. A beneficial role for pantothenic acid supplementation in lipid metabolism, rheumatoid arthritis, or athletic performance remains unproved.
Isolated deficiency of biotin or pantothenic acid virtually never occurs.
