Effect of pantothenic acid and pantethine on intestinal motility in aging rats

Abstract

Atonic constipation, which is induced by intestinal decompression and stagnation of intestinal motility, is a serious problem in the elderly. In clinical medicine, pantethine (PaSS), a disulfide type of pantetheine (PaSH), is widely used in this condition to increase intestinal motility¹⁾. The present clinical test indicates that pantothenic acid (PaA) is involved in the intestinal motility because PaA and PaSH are the precursors of CoA. Because synthesis from PaA to CoA is decreased, the rate of the biosynthetic reaction in which PaSH is obtained from PaA influences aging²⁾.

In this study, in order to identify the involvement of PaA deficiency in aging, we determined the effects of PaA and PaSS in aging rats.