PABA - Benefits and Food Sources of PABA
What is PABA?
PABA stands for Para-aminobenzoic Acid. It is thought of a member of B complex and is not considered as a true vitamin. It is widely distributed in nature. It is a water soluble nutrient and the supply of PABA is needed daily. PABA is synthesized by intestinal bacteria and is stored in body tissues. It is believed that this vitamin also stimulates intestinal bacteria to help form folic acid, which then stimulates the production and utilization of vitamin B5. PABA is used with vitamin B, vitamin C and folic acid for best results.
Benefits of PABA
- PABA is useful to protect the skin from the harmful like sun rays. Hence it is used in several sunburn creams to save from sunburn.
- PABA prevents the accumulation of abnormal fibrous tissue in the body.
- PABA is useful for improving the protein used in the body; it helps in the red blood cell formation as well as assisting the manufacture of folic acid in the intestines.
- It is also effective in the treatment of vitiligo (a condition that causes discoloration of the skin).
- It is useful in hair growth and also helps in protecting discoloration of hairs. It is mostly used when cure to grey hairs is needed.
- PABA is also useful in peyronie’s disease, scleroderma, morphea, and linear scleroderma.
Deficiency Symptoms of PABA
- The discoloration of hair is an important symptom of deficiency of PABA. The hairs usually becomes of grey color if body is deficient of PABA.
- The symptoms of fatigue, depression, irritability, attention deficit or memory loss may occur as a result of deficiency of PABA.
- Muscular weakness or nerve damage may also be the symptoms of PABA deficiency.
- The discoloration may also occur in eyes, nails and skin etc. with hairs.
- Eczema and digestive disorders are also common in deficiency of PABA.
Excessive Intake of PABA
There are no serious side effects reported with 300-400 mg per day. Larger amounts such as 8 grams per day or more may cause low blood sugar, rash, fever, and liver damage. PABA in high levels can also result in nausea and vomiting, and in skin rashes.
Recommended Dosage of PABA
The recommended dietary allowance for PABA is as follows:
- For adults - 400mcg/day
- For children - 200 to 300mcg/day
- For infants - 50mcg/day
- For pregnancy - 800mcg/day
- For lactation - 600mcg/day
Rich Food Sources of PABA
The most common food sources of PABA are kidney, liver, wheat germ, brown rice, whole grain, molasses, mushrooms and spinach. It is also found in good quantity in Blackstrap molasses, brewer’s yeast, beef, eggs and leafy green vegetables also.