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Glite Dictionary
pantothenic acid

pantothenic acid

1 5.3
A B vitamin that helps the body use food for energy
  • noun
  • /ˌpæn.təˈθɛn.ɪk ˈæs.ɪd/
  • Specialized
: ácido pantoténico
  • I take a supplement that contains pantothenic acid daily.

Examples

  • A deficiency in pantothenic acid is rare since it is found in a wide variety of foods.

  • Many energy drinks are fortified with pantothenic acid to support metabolism.

  • Studies show that pantothenic acid plays a vital role in synthesizing coenzyme A.

  • Many foods are rich in pantothenic acid.

  • Pantothenic acid is essential for the body to metabolize fats and carbohydrates effectively.

  • You can find pantothenic acid in foods like eggs, fish, and whole grains.

  • A lack of pantothenic acid can lead to various health issues, including fatigue.

Surface Forms

pantothenic acid singular
pantothenic acids plural

Morphology

pantothenic + acid

The noun is compositionally built: 'pantothenic' denotes something related to a B vitamin and 'acid' denotes a chemical substance, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it is the acid form of the pantothenic/vitamin B compound. This 'X acid' naming pattern is regular in chemistry and cross-linguistically common, making the meaning predictable for learners who know the parts.

Etymology

Pantothenic acid comes from Greek words meaning 'from everywhere' and the root panto- means 'all', because scientists found this substance in many foods. So the name fits a B vitamin that helps the body turn food into energy.