Moderate evidenceHeart & metabolic

Pantethine

The active disulphide form of vitamin B5, with a genuine but modest LDL-lowering effect. The supporting trials are small and largely funded by one manufacturer.

Evidence last reviewed: August 2026

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What the science says

LDL and total cholesterol Moderate evidence
A triple-blinded, placebo- and diet-controlled trial in 32 adults eligible for statin therapy found pantethine lowered LDL by about 11% from baseline over 16 weeks, with total and non-HDL cholesterol also falling significantly relative to placebo. An earlier trial from the same group in a North American population reported comparable changes.
Comparison with other agents Limited evidence
A randomised, double-blind multicentre trial in China compared pantethine with coenzyme A in hyperlipidaemic patients and found both altered lipids, but without a placebo arm the size of the true effect is hard to pin down.
Cardiovascular events Limited evidence
No trial has tested whether pantethine reduces heart attacks or strokes. The effect size on LDL is roughly a third to a quarter of what a moderate statin dose achieves.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseTrials used 600 mg/day for the first 8 weeks then 900 mg/day, divided into two or three doses with food, for 16 weeks.

SafetyWell tolerated; the main side effects are nausea, diarrhoea and heartburn, usually at higher doses. It may have a mild antiplatelet effect, which matters if you take anticoagulants or are heading to surgery. Data in pregnancy are limited. It is not a substitute for statin therapy in people at high cardiovascular risk.

Scientific references

Pantethine, a derivative of vitamin B5, favorably alters total, LDL and non-HDL cholesterol in low to moderate cardiovascular risk subjects eligible for statin therapy: a triple-blinded placebo and diet-controlled investigation
Evans M, Rumberger JA, Azumano I — Vasc Health Risk Manag, 2014
Pantethine, a derivative of vitamin B(5) used as a nutritional supplement, favorably alters low-density lipoprotein cholesterol metabolism in low- to moderate-cardiovascular risk North American subjects: a triple-blinded placebo and diet-controlled investigation
Rumberger JA, Napolitano J, Azumano I — Nutr Res, 2011
Efficacy and tolerability of coenzyme A vs pantethine for the treatment of patients with hyperlipidemia: A randomized, double-blind, multicenter study
Chen YQ, Zhao SP, Zhao YH — J Clin Lipidol, 2015

Where to buy

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