Vitamin B5 Supplement Shows Promise for Psoriasis Treatment in Early Study

Vitamin B5 Supplement Shows Promise for Psoriasis Treatment in Early Study

A common vitamin B5-derived supplement may offer a promising new approach to managing psoriasis, according to newly published research. Scientists found that pantethine, a nutritional supplement related to vitamin B5, helped reduce psoriasis symptoms in a small human trial and prevented the development of psoriasis-like disease in mice.

The findings are attracting attention because psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition for which there is currently no cure. The disease can cause itchy, inflamed and scaly patches of skin, often appearing on areas such as the elbows, knees and waist.
What Is Pantethine?

Pantethine is a derivative of vitamin B5 and is already available as a nutritional supplement. It has commonly been studied for its potential role in cholesterol management.

Researchers from Beijing investigated pantethine because of its relationship with metabolic processes inside immune cells. Their work focused particularly on dendritic cells, which help coordinate immune responses and can contribute to inflammation when they become excessively activated.

The researchers discovered that enzymes known as Vanins were elevated in dendritic cells from people with psoriasis. Increased Vanin activity can reduce pantethine levels, encouraging cholesterol production and excessive activation of these immune cells.
How Could Pantethine Help Psoriasis?

According to the study, restoring pantethine levels appeared to interrupt this process. Researchers found that pantethine reduced cholesterol accumulation in dendritic cells and helped suppress their inflammatory activity.

This is significant because overactive immune responses are a major part of psoriasis. By influencing the metabolic pathway inside these immune cells, pantethine could potentially provide a new way of reducing inflammation rather than simply treating visible skin symptoms.

Animal experiments produced particularly striking results, with pantethine preventing the development of psoriasis-like symptoms in mice. However, results from animals do not automatically translate into the same benefits for humans.
Small Human Trial Shows Encouraging Results

The researchers also conducted a small 12-week proof-of-concept trial involving 24 people with psoriasis. Participants received a standard ointment, while half also received pantethine tablets.

Those who received the additional pantethine treatment experienced improvements in their psoriasis symptoms. The benefits appeared particularly noticeable among participants who had elevated cholesterol levels at the beginning of the study.

Because the trial was very small, larger and more carefully controlled studies will be necessary before pantethine can be considered an established psoriasis treatment.
Should People With Psoriasis Take Pantethine?

The findings are encouraging, but they should not be interpreted as proof that people with psoriasis should start taking pantethine on their own.

Psoriasis can vary significantly from person to person, and established treatments remain important for controlling symptoms and preventing complications. Anyone considering a supplement for psoriasis should discuss it with a doctor or dermatologist, particularly if they already take prescription medicines or have other health conditions.

Interestingly, other research is also exploring vitamin-related compounds in psoriasis. A 2026 randomized, placebo-controlled study found that nicotinamide riboside, a vitamin B3-related supplement, reduced certain inflammatory immune responses in people with mild-to-moderate psoriasis.
A Potential New Direction for Psoriasis Research

The pantethine findings offer researchers a new perspective on the connection between metabolism, cholesterol and autoimmune inflammation. Rather than viewing psoriasis solely as a skin problem, the research highlights how metabolic changes inside immune cells may influence the disease.

More research is needed, but pantethine could eventually become part of a broader strategy for managing psoriasis.
Conclusion

A vitamin B5-derived supplement called pantethine has shown promising early results against psoriasis, both in laboratory research and in a small human study. The researchers found that it may calm overactive immune cells by influencing cholesterol-related metabolic pathways.

The results are encouraging, but pantethine is not yet a proven cure for psoriasis. Larger clinical trials will be essential to determine how effective and safe the approach is over the long term.