The term Vitamin B15, or Pangamic Acid, is a colloquial designation for a substance that has never been officially recognized as a true vitamin by global health authorities. This alleged nutrient exists in a regulatory gray area, sparking debates about its identity, safety, and purported benefits. The history of Pangamic Acid illustrates the difference between marketing claims and established biochemical fact.
Defining Pangamic Acid
Pangamic Acid was first introduced in 1951 by biochemists Ernst T. Krebs Sr. and Jr., who isolated it from apricot kernels. They coined the name “pangamic,” derived from the Greek words for “universal” (pan) and “seed” (gamos), reflecting their belief that the compound was widely present in seeds. Chemically, the original substance was claimed to be D-gluconodimethyl aminoacetic acid, an ester formed from dimethylglycine (DMG) and gluconic acid.
DMG is a naturally occurring intermediate metabolite in the body, found in foods like beans and liver. Because Pangamic Acid is unstable, many products marketed as B15 or Pangamate are actually composed of calcium pangamate, dimethylglycine, or mixtures of other compounds like calcium gluconate. This variability means that the chemical identity of “Pangamic Acid” often lacks a single, consistent definition.
The Lack of Official Vitamin Recognition
To be officially classified as a vitamin, a substance must meet specific, rigorous criteria. These requirements include:
- It must be essential for normal growth and metabolism.
- It cannot be synthesized by the body in sufficient amounts.
- Its absence must lead to a defined deficiency disease.
Pangamic Acid has consistently failed to meet these scientific requirements, which is why it is not recognized as Vitamin B15 by major regulatory bodies.
No established deficiency syndrome linked specifically to a lack of Pangamic Acid has ever been identified in humans or animals. Due to this lack of evidence for essentiality, authorities like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) do not consider it a vitamin or an approved food supplement. In the United States, Pangamic Acid and its related products are often classified as unapproved food additives, carrying a stricter regulatory burden.
Common Supplement Claims and Scientific Evidence
Proponents of Pangamic Acid have marketed it with a wide array of health claims. These assertions often suggest it can improve overall well-being and act as an anti-aging compound. Specific claims include:
- Boosting athletic performance and endurance.
- Enhancing the oxygenation of the heart and brain.
- Acting as a powerful “detoxifying” agent.
- Treating conditions such as asthma, eczema, and joint pain.
The scientific consensus does not support these marketing assertions.
Studies specifically analyzing its effect on exercise endurance have often concluded that the consumption of Pangamic Acid did not provide any measurable metabolic or circulatory advantage to human subjects. Furthermore, early positive findings, often originating from Russian sports science, have been critically noted for frequently lacking controlled study designs or adequate comparable control groups.
Safety Profile and Consumer Warnings
The safety profile of Pangamic Acid is a major concern, largely due to its inconsistent chemical composition and lack of regulatory oversight. Because there is no standard chemical identity, a product labeled “Pangamic Acid” may contain several distinct and pharmacologically different substances. This variability makes it impossible for consumers to know exactly what they are ingesting, increasing the risk of adverse effects.
A particularly dangerous component found in some historical B15 formulations is diisopropylamine dichloroacetate (DIPA). Studies have demonstrated that DIPA can be mutagenic in laboratory tests, meaning it has the potential to cause genetic mutations. This evidence has led to serious safety concerns, with some health organizations concluding that Pangamic Acid is possibly unsafe for consumption. Pregnant and breastfeeding individuals are explicitly warned to avoid Pangamic Acid due to the potential for serious harm.