Tag: Para aminobenzoic acid

Despite its popular moniker, a true, recognized vitamin B10 does not exist in human nutrition. Instead, the term refers to para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), a compound with a much more limited, and sometimes controversial, role in the body. This article answers: is there such a thing as vitamin B10?

Historically, PABA, or para-aminobenzoic acid, was once mistakenly called a B vitamin, often referred to as 'vitamin B10' or 'vitamin Bx'. Though it shares a close relationship with the B-complex, PABA is now classified as a nonessential nutrient, not a true vitamin, primarily because the body's gut bacteria can produce it.

According to historical research, the organic compound para-aminobenzoic acid, commonly referred to as PABA, was first identified in the mid-19th century and later called vitamin B10. This article clarifies what is vitamin B10 also known as, exploring its history, functions, and distinction from true B vitamins.

While often labeled as a B vitamin, para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), or "vitamin B10", is not a true, essential vitamin for humans because our gut bacteria can produce it. This makes the question, 'How much vitamin B10 per day?', fundamentally different than for other essential vitamins.

Despite being labeled as B10 vitamin or Bx, para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) is not an essential nutrient for humans. This compound, considered part of the B vitamin complex, is crucial for certain bacteria but is not recognized as a true vitamin for human health.

Originally dubbed "vitamin B10," PABA is an organic compound that our gut bacteria can produce, but it is also present in many common foods and sold as a supplement. For those interested in this substance, understanding its sources is key, especially considering the shifting perspectives on its use in products like sunscreen.

Although once classified as a vitamin, PABA is no longer considered an essential nutrient for humans, but it is known by a different chemical name. PABA stands for para-aminobenzoic acid, a compound with various biological functions that is also known by the alternate names vitamin B10 and vitamin Bx.

Historically, para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) was sometimes designated as vitamin Bx or B10, but this classification is no longer accurate and was based on its role in bacteria rather than human metabolism. In reality, the answer to the question, "Is PABA a vitamin B?" is more complex, involving its status as a non-essential nutrient-like compound rather than a true essential vitamin for human health.

Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) is a component of the folic acid molecule and a crucial nutrient for many microorganisms, a fact that highlights its foundational significance in biological processes. This historical compound, sometimes called vitamin Bx, was once a popular supplement and is perhaps best known for its use in early sunscreen formulations.

While once mistakenly labeled "Vitamin Bx" or "B10," para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) is not a true vitamin for humans and is biochemically distinct from vitamin B6. This confusion arises from PABA's historical association with the B-complex family, but its actual role and effects in the human body are very different from those of pyridoxine.