Vitamin B15 (Pangamic Acid)

Summary

Pangamic acid, which has also been referred to as B15, has no widely accepted chemical identity - it is considered not an identifiable substance by the FDA - different substances have all been sold under the name Pangamic acid. There is also some evidence to suggest Pangamic acid could be dangerous and potentially carcinogenic.

Due the dubious and potentially dangerous nature of pangamic acid (B15), G&G will not supply or manufacture products marketed as containing B15 or pangamic acid.

In some texts, Pangamic acid and Dimethylglycine (DMG) are referred to interchangeably. However, they are two different chemicals.

G&G is willing to supply or manufacture DMG and products marketed as B16.

However, this product should not be marketed towards pregnant or breast-feeding individuals, as there have been no extensive studies proving its safety.

For a deeper look into this topic, please see the research laid out below.

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Vitamins B15 and B16

For something to be classified as a vitamin it must meet two criteria: it must be essential for life, and it must not be manufactured by the body^[1] (either at all, or only in negligible quantities). Typically, we take vitamins into our diet through foods or supplements.

According to this criteria, vitamins B15 and B16 are not recognised as vitamins^[2][3], as they are not essential to the regular function of the human body, or can be created by the human body. However, products can be marketed as B15 or B16 if they contain the appropriate ingredients.

We can refer to these by their chemical names - B15; Pangamic Acid, and B16; Dimethylglycine.

Pangamic Acid vs. Dimethylglycine

There has been some confusion between the two, with both being referred to interchangeably in some texts.

Pangamic acid is a derivative of dimethylglycine – when dimethylglycine is combined with gluconic acid, the result is pangamic acid.

Pangamic Acid (or Pangamate)

This compound was patented in the 1950s by the Krebses, who then termed it vitamin B15 themselves. It is not recognized as a vitamin^[4] as it not essential to life – in fact there is no scientific evidence^[5] of any real nutritional value. There is also no data to support the various claims made by Krebs of pangamic acid as a ‘cure-all’.

According to the FDA^[6], there is no accepted chemical identity for pangamic acid that has been determined, and as such it is considered “not an identifiable substance”. Suppliers have been known to sell different chemical compounds all under the name ‘pangamic acid’. Due to the dubious nature of pangamic acid, the FDA has made attempts to take it off the market entirely, and has recommended the seizure of any chemicals being advertised as pangamic acid.

There is also no proven way of manufacturing what Krebs claims is pangamic acid^[7] – attempts by other researchers to synthesise it using Krebs’ patented method all proved unsuccessful, which demonstrates that the supposed method is not reproducible or reliable.

Pangamic acid does appear to be quite popular in the athletic community as somewhat of a ‘natural performance enhancer’, with claims it can improve exercise endurance^[8]. However, in a double-blind study by Northern Kentucky University^[9][10], it was concluded that pangamic acid does not improve short-term exercise performance.

In conclusion, despite claims for pangamic acid as a ‘cure-all’, all evidence of this appears to be purely anecdotal and not backed by proper research. In fact, Krebs has even been labelled a conman^[11], and has promoted several substances as cancer cures and cure-alls. There is also evidence to suggest that pangamic acid is actually unsafe – an assay has shown that chemicals like pangamic acid have a 90% probability of being carcinogenic^[12].

Due to all the controversy surrounding it, G&G will not supply, or manufacture products marketed as containing, pangamic acid or any derivative thereof. This also extends to products marketed as B15.

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References

1. Vitamins and Minerals | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Accessed 18/01/2023
2. B Vitamins | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Accessed 19/01/2023
3. Vitamins and minerals - B vitamins and folic acid - NHS Accessed 19/01/2023
4. PANGAMIC ACID: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews Accessed 19/01/2023
5. Pangamic acid (“vitamin B15”) | The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition | Oxford Academic Accessed 19/01/2023
6. CPG Sec. 457.100 Pangamic Acid and Pangamic Acid Products Unsafe for Food and Drug Use | FDA Accessed 19/01/2023
7. Controversies in nutrition: Internet Archive Accessed 19/01/2023
8. Pangamic Acid: Health Benefits, Side Effects, Uses, Dose & Precautions Accessed 19/01/2023
9. The effect of pangamic acid on maximal treadmill performance - PubMed Accessed 19/01/2023
10. Gray 1982 - B15 Myth or Miracle Accessed 19/01/2023
11. Ernst T. Krebs Accessed 19/01/2023
12. Vitamin B15—whatever it is, it won't help | JAMA Accessed 19/01/2023