Common Name(s): D-pantethine,pantethein,coa precursor dimer
CAS Number: 16816-67-4
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides coa precursor antioxidant activity from pantethine's thiol-containing vitamin b5-related structure.
Why It's Used: Active coa precursor โ pantethine provides more direct coa synthesis support than panthenol by providing the pantetheine disulfide that only requires reduction to coa-active form.
How It Works: Pantethine reduced to pantetheine by thioredoxin/glutaredoxin. pantetheine phosphorylated to 4-phosphopantetheine โ coa by coa biosynthesis enzymes. thiol groups of pantetheine provide additional antioxidant radical scavenging. coa cofactor for fatty acid synthesis supporting ceramide and barrier lipid production.
Typically Found In: Anti-aging skin care,vitamin-enriched products,barrier support
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ vitamin b complex
Secondary Functions: Antioxidant cofactor,metabolic support
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.01%โ1%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes โ synthetic
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Synthetically produced for cosmetic use.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; excellent tolerability.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Other b vitamins,niacinamide,antioxidant complexes
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Pantethine's two-step reduction to coa (pantethineโpantetheineโcoa) vs panthenol's three-step conversion (panthenolโpantothenic acidโphosphopantothenateโcoa) provides faster coa availability in cells with impaired pantothenate kinase (pank) activity. pank impairment occurs in pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (pkan) and may occur in aging โ making pantethine's pank-bypassing coa route advantageous in compromised metabolic states.
Last Verified: 2026-03-12
Primary Sources: Cosing database,cir safety assessment