Pantothenic Acid, PABA & Inositol

Three-nutrient pantothenic acid, PABA and inositol reference formula with 50 mg of each per serving, developed as a capsule, with a tablet option.

Pantothenic Acid, PABA & Inositol is a reference formula for brands building a B-complex-style product around three nutrients at a default amount of 50 mg each per serving. All 43 reference formulas in this set carry these three nutrients inside a wider B-vitamin complex with thiamin, riboflavin, biotin, choline and others, so the page describes the three-nutrient module and the brand adds the remaining vitamins as its own project.

Capsule is the lead format because three 50 mg actives fit one standard capsule, and a tablet version serves brands that sell a compressed B-complex unit. The development work centers on the different forms of the three nutrients: a calcium salt of pantothenic acid, a free aromatic acid and a sugar-like polyol.

Ingredient Composition

IngredientPer ServingRaw Material FormAlternative Form (same amount of active)
Pantothenic Acid50 mg (default amount)Calcium pantothenate, 54.3 mg per serving (92.0% pantothenic acid); specification assay and calcium content set with the supplierPantothenic acid as D-panthenol or another stabilized source, each with its own conversion
PABA50 mg (default amount)p-Aminobenzoic acid, 50 mg per serving; specification purity set with the supplierA different grade of p-aminobenzoic acid with a stated particle size
Inositol50 mg (default amount)Myo-inositol, 50 mg per serving; specified on a declared-weight basisA stated myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol ratio, which is a separate specification

Amounts are stated as mg of each nutrient. For pantothenic acid, the stated amount is the free acid (C9H17NO5, 219.23 g/mol PubChem), so calcium pantothenate (C18H32CaN2O10, 476.5 g/mol PubChem) carries two pantothenate units per molecule and is weighed at 50 divided by 0.920. PABA is 137.14 g/mol PubChem and myo-inositol is 180.16 g/mol PubChem; neither needs a salt conversion.

Intended Benefits & Formula Rationale

This formula is designed for products positioned around B-vitamin and energy-metabolism nutrition. The three nutrients are included together because the reference labels sell them together as part of a B-complex.

Intended Benefit DirectionKey IngredientsFormulation Rationale
Energy metabolism nutritionPantothenic AcidA review of the B vitamins in mitochondrial energy metabolism describes pantothenic acid as required for coenzyme A formation and for the pyruvate and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complexes and fatty acid oxidation [1]. Evidence: Referenced
Inositol as a signaling nutrientInositolA review describes myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol as natural compounds involved in many biological pathways, including endocrine signal transduction [2]. Evidence: Referenced

PABA is listed as a component of the reference labels and is not covered by the references above. The brand decides amount, claims and target market, and each is reviewed for the sales market.

Available Formats

The reference formula is built for a capsule version and a tablet version; counts per serving are design choices that the brand can adjust.

FormatUnitPer ServingPack SizeOther Ingredients (typical)Suitability
Capsule1 capsule50 mg each of the three nutrients60 or 100 capsulesMicrocrystalline cellulose diluent, anti-caking flow agent, plant-based capsule shellLead format; three actives in a standard fill
Tablet1 tablet50 mg each of the three nutrients60 or 100 tabletsDiluent (microcrystalline cellulose), binder, disintegrant, coatingCompressed B-complex unit; coating masks the odor of the vitamins

Raw Material Input & Fill (Design Estimate)

Design estimates. The input is the labeled weight of each nutrient divided by the active share of its raw material, with every raw material assumed at 100% purity as purchased; the real input follows the certificates of analysis.

FormatRaw Material Input per UnitDesign FillBalance for ExcipientsVerification Before Scale-Up
Capsule54.3 mg calcium pantothenate, 50 mg PABA, 50 mg inositol250 mg per capsule95.7 mgFlow, fill weight variation, assay of each nutrient
Tablet54.3 mg calcium pantothenate, 50 mg PABA, 50 mg inositol320 mg per tablet165.7 mgHardness, disintegration, coating adhesion, assay of each nutrient

Softgel and liquid versions are separate projects, because the water-soluble nutrients need their own suspension or solution system in those formats.

Formulation Considerations

Three different raw materials. The calcium salt, the free aromatic acid and the polyol differ in particle size, density and flow. The blend is built by stepwise mixing and checked for uniformity of each nutrient, because three actives of similar weight can segregate during filling.
Hygroscopic pantothenate. Calcium pantothenate takes up moisture, and so do the polyol and any B vitamins the brand adds. Humidity control, packaging with desiccant and an anti-caking agent are set early.
Complex context. The reference labels carry these three nutrients inside a B-complex that also includes thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, biotin and choline, and the default fill assumes only the three actives. Adding the other vitamins changes the fill weight, the odor and the color of the product.
Evidence and tier. The reviews in [1] and [2] describe the roles of the nutrients, and PABA has no review in this set. Review of the dose limit and label wording for each sales market precedes product development.

Customization Options

Brands adjust the amount of each nutrient, the format and the add-ons.

ParameterRangeNote
Amount of each nutrient per serving50 or 100 mgExamples for the brand; fill weight and tablet size change with the amount
Pantothenic acid sourceCalcium pantothenate or another stabilized sourceChanges the input weight and the conversion
FormatCapsule or tabletSoftgel and liquid are separate projects
Pack size60 to 100 unitsSet by the brand
Add-onsThiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, biotin, cholineEach added vitamin raises the fill weight and the odor, and the B-complex becomes its own project

The pilot run confirms blend uniformity of the three actives, tablet hardness and disintegration with the chosen coating, and the assay of each nutrient in the first units against the specification.

Technical Status & Data Sources

ItemStatusDetails
Reference formulaNIH DSLDThe ingredient and amount come from a labeled product in the NIH DSLD (Pantothenic Acid 50 mg + Paba 50 mg + Inositol 50 mg on the label of CF014464; example DSLD labels 206475, 215642, 262605). The label lists pantothenic acid, PABA and inositol among the ingredients of a B-complex; calcium pantothenate is set as the form of pantothenic acid.
SpecificationSet in formulationPantothenic acid as calcium pantothenate, PABA and myo-inositol, 50 mg of each per serving; assay of each nutrient, calcium content, heavy-metal limits and method are fixed with the supplier. Unit size, fill weight and stability are set in formulation.
Data sourceNIH DSLDDSLD v9.4.0, downloaded 2026-01-10: 50,824 reference formulas merged from on-market labels with complete ingredient amounts. Counts show how labels are distributed.
Market reviewPer marketDose limits, labeling and claims are reviewed for each sales market before a finished product is developed.
ReferencesSources[1] Depeint F, Bruce WR, Shangari N, Mehta R, O’Brien PJ. Mitochondrial function and toxicity: role of the B vitamin family on mitochondrial energy metabolism. Chem Biol Interact. 2006;163(1-2):94-112. DOI · PubMed<br>[2] Dinicola S, Unfer V, Facchinetti F, et al. Inositols: from established knowledge to novel approaches. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(19):10575. DOI · PubMed

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