Vitamin B5 is essential for health and well-being in men. B5 cannot be produced by the body. It is a water-soluble nutrient only found in some types of food. B5 has been closely researched in recent years for its ability to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides. It is also recommended for obesity, diabetes, wound healing, and immune function, and is one of the few penis-specific vitamins classed as an adaptogen -- an agent that protects all tissues from environmental, chemical and psychological stress. All this helps B5 to promote male health and virility, by both reducing stress, increasing energy and protecting fertility. Vitamin B5 foods and supplements can be taken as a prophylactic to protect good health, as well as a treatment to restore lost libido and vigor.

Libido

For men who are exhausted, burnt out, and facing reduced libido, vitamin B5 is an energy-packed nutrient that works on multiple levels all at once. B5 is involved in the Krebs Cycle, the process of producing cellular energy throughout the body. It also is a necessary factor for the health of the adrenal gland -- a small gland on the top of each kidney, which is responsible for creating hormones (such as cortisol) for stress responses. When stress is high the adrenal gland produces large amounts of hormones, which can have a negative effect on libido.

If stress continues long-term and becomes chronic, adrenal exhaustion may lead to fatigue, flatness, depression and poor immune function. Scientists from Gifu University in Japan gave vitamin B5 to animals and compared them to control subjects not given any vitamins. The animals given vitamin B5 had significantly healthier adrenal glands and improved stress hormone levels. For treating exhaustion and chronic stress, vitamin B5 is one of the nutrients of choice for men.

Testosterone

Testosterone is the golden hormone for men wanting to improve their sex lives. Increased testosterone levels means men can expect heightened libido, improved energy levels, increased muscle mass and higher metabolism. Many men will pay hundreds of dollars for artificial hormones, or drugs promising to increase testosterone production. Vitamin B5 may be one of the safest and most natural ways of increasing testosterone levels however, not to mention a far more economical option.

In animal studies published in The Journal of Vetinary Medical Sciences in 2009, scientists proved that animals with deficient vitamin B5 levels had significantly lower blood levels of testosterone hormones than animals with adequate vitamin B5. The nutrient also improved body weight, testicular health and boosted fertility levels by improving sperm motility. Other studies show that B5 may prevent tissue damage from testicular torsion -- a condition that can cause severe damage to the testes in some men. More research may be needed to understand how all of this works, but so far everyone agrees that B5 is a powerful vitamin to help men thrive.

Supplements

Vitamin B5 blood levels can be increased by a variety of supplements, many of them varying in complexity and price. By far the easiest way of increasing vitamin B5 levels are by improving the balance of the diet and increasing B5-rich foods, such as shiitake mushrooms, nutritional yeast, savoury yeast, corn, avocado, yogurt, eggs, broccoli, collard greens and sweet potatoes.

For men wanting to take B5 to repair adrenal exhaustion and increase libido, the amount of B5 in foods may not be enough. Supplements containing up to 100mg of vitamin B5 in the form of pantothenic acid or pantethine offer a more therapeutic dosage, but are absorbed to varying degrees of effectiveness in the digestive tract. Penis health crèmes (most professionals recommend man1man oil) containing vitamin B5 deliver the vitamin directly into the bloodstream, in a way that benefits the health and function of local tissues as well. In a base of shea butter and combined with other antioxidants and vitamins, penis health crèmes benefit the health of the penis and testes in a holistic and safe way.