Vitamin B5 (also known as pantothenic acid) is a water soluble vitamin which is part of the B complex group (eight vitamins which were initially all thought to be vitamin B).  It was first noticed by R.J. Williams in 1933 as a growth factor in yeast.  In 1939 Richard Kuhn isolated vitamin B5 but it got little attention till over 10 years later.  In the 1950s scientists performed further research into the effect vitamin B5 had on humans by feeding volunteers a diet that was deficient in the vitamin.  After a few weeks on the diet the volunteers complained that they felt weak and unwell.  … [Read more...]