https://www.exercise.com/supplements/biotin
Biotin

Biotin

Aid Overall Health

Biotin is a B complex vitamin, although it took scientists 40 years to make the determination that it was actually a vitamin after they discovered it. Biotin is water soluble. It is thought that any vitamin that is water soluble works better for the body's metabolism.

Biotin is an essential vitamin, which means that your body requires it to survive and cannot make it on its own. You get biotin from the foods you eat and it is very rare for you to become biotin deficient. That is because you only need about .035 mg a day in order to maintain a healthy balance of biotin.

There are situations where persons should use a supplement to make up for a biotin deficiency. Typically, a biotin deficiency only occurs in people who eat raw egg whites as part of their daily diet or in individuals who have specific conditions that they are born with that cause a deficiency. About 1/3 of all pregnant women suffer from a very mild biotin deficiency.

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Summary

Biotin Deficiency Effects A person with biotin deficiency may have: Hair loss Brittle fingernails Red rash around the eyes, nose and mouth that is scaly Rash around the genital area Depression Exhaustion Hallucinations Numbness in the finge... more

Biotin Deficiency Effects

A person with biotin deficiency may have:

  • Hair loss
  • Brittle fingernails
  • Red rash around the eyes, nose and mouth that is scaly
  • Rash around the genital area
  • Depression
  • Exhaustion
  • Hallucinations
  • Numbness in the fingers and toes
  • Tingling in the fingers and toes

Biotin Benefits

Biotin is responsible for the growth of cells as well as the body’s manufacturing of fatty acids. It also metabolizes amino acids as well as fats, which is important for the development of energy. Biotin also plays an important role in the process that allows oxygen to get to all of the living cells in your body by transferring carbon dioxide through the body.

For those that suffer a biotin deficiency, a biotin supplement is adequate to prevent that deficiency from becoming an issue in the body. However, larger doses of biotin are required because the body absorbs vitamins at a different rate in a supplement form than it does when it gets those vitamins from food. Here are some other ways that the use of biotin is being studied:

  • Pregnancy- Some studies show, although evidence isn’t conclusive at this time, that women who are pregnant and have a biotin deficiency stand a higher chance of delivering a baby with birth defects. Many doctors will prescribe a biotin supplement for pregnant women for this reason.
  • Diabetes- There are current ongoing studies to determine how or if biotin aids people with diabetes in metabolizing sugar. It is believed that biotin can aid those with non insulin dependant diabetes in getting their sugar levels to normal ranges with biotin.
  • Hair and nails- The primary use of biotin, however, is to aid in healthy hair and nail growth. What’s more, biotin is believed to prevent hair loss and is one of the common ingredients in hair loss products. Biotin is also believed to prevent skin rashes as well.

There is little scientific evidence to support these beliefs. However, many believe that since a deficiency of biotin causes hair loss, brittle fingernails and rashes that taking a supplement would conversely prevent these things from occurring.

Other claims for biotin are that it can help people who have suffered from rapid weight loss or malnutrition to regain their body’s strength and balance. There is no evidence to support these claims and there are no ongoing studies in this area.

Biotin: Who Should Take It

Anyone with a biotin deficiency should take biotin. If you are a pregnant woman, you should speak to your doctor first. Studies for the benefit of biotin in deficient patients included pregnant women and children.

If you are a body builder or an athlete that uses raw eggs in your diet or you use a daily dose of egg white proteins, then you should include a biotin supplement in your diet. It is important to note that it takes years of raw egg or protein ingestion for it to negatively impact your biotin levels.

There is no evidence that taking additional biotin, if you already have healthy levels in your body, is beneficial. It doesn’t produce additional energy nor does it increase the rate of cell growth in the body. The body simply eliminates what it doesn’t need.

What this means for you is that you don’t need to spend your money on a biotin supplement if you don’t have a deficiency. Your body ingests what it needs from foods like:

  • Bananas
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Egg Yolk
  • Legumes
  • Mushrooms
  • Salmon
  • Sardines
  • Yeast

Because biotin has been studied under clinical conditions, it has been shown that you can take up to 200 mg of biotin a day with o adverse side effects. However, if you don’t have a deficiency, then it is only recommended that you take no more than 5 mg a day.

Biotin: Side Effects and Interaction

Biotin has been studied for 2 years in human trials and no side effects have been reported. Studies have included individuals with and without deficiencies.

However, there is one noted interaction. People with seizures or disorders/diseases that cause seizures suffered additional seizures while taking a biotin supplement. You should not take biotin if you have any condition that may cause seizures. In addition, if you have any medical condition or are taking any medication, you shouldn’t start any supplement program without the guidance of your doctor. Use the free supplement finder now!

Other

  • Side Effects
  • Other Names
  • Uses
Stomach Aches
Jaundice
Liver Toxicity
Dark Urine
Biotina, Coenzyme R, D-Biotin, Vitamin B7, Vitamin H, W Factor, Cis-hexahydro-2-oxo-1H-thieno[3,4-d]-imidazole-4-valeric Acid
Anxiety
Cancer
Cell Health/Repair
Depression
Diuretic
Eczema
Fever Reducer
Healthy Hair And Nails
Skin Hydration
Hair Loss