Vitamin H is part of the family of B vitamins making up what's commonly known as the B vitamin complex. Its chemical name is biotin. According to the National Institutes of Health, vitamin H is commonly found in many of the normal foods we eat on a daily basis.
All B vitamins are well known in the scientific community for being essential to humans in breaking down nutrients and using them properly. Vitamin H is no exception.
Vitamin H deficiency is common in the United States especially among pregnant women and those being tube fed on a long-term basis. Biotin deficiency is most often identified by symptoms including thinning hair and hair loss, brittle nails, dermatitis, and mild depression.
As such, biotin is often prescribed as a dietary supplement when patients at risk develop these symptoms. It is also used as a daily supplement under the guise of helping to prevent hair loss and certain skin issues.
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Vitamin H Supplementation Very rarely is vitamin H sold as a standalone supplement. This is primarily due to the fact that without the companionship of other B vitamins in the complex, vitamin H is not readily absorbed and utilized. Biotin is often combined with vitamins B12 and B5, su... more
Very rarely is vitamin H sold as a standalone supplement. This is primarily due to the fact that without the companionship of other B vitamins in the complex, vitamin H is not readily absorbed and utilized.
Biotin is often combined with vitamins B12 and B5, sulfur, and vitamin C in a broader supplement. It's also commonly included in high potency vitamins intended for bodybuilders and athletes.
Many weightlifters and fitness buffs consume large amounts of egg whites. Consumption of excessive egg whites can lead to vitamin H deficiency, a condition that can be exacerbated by other supplements an athlete might consume.
For this reason, many bodybuilding formulas include vitamin H as an ingredient to make up for any deficiency. Under normal conditions a bodybuilder would not suffer biotin deficiency as a result of consuming egg whites as long as he also consumes moderate amounts of vitamin H.
That said, vitamin H is often marketed as a "miracle supplement" to help prevent hair loss. It's true that one of the symptoms of biotin deficiency is hair loss. However, there is no indication that a daily supplement of vitamin H will prevent hair loss in people who don’t have a deficiency.
It is certainly possible to suffer from hair loss without being vitamin H deficient. There are many other causes of hair loss that need to be considered. Taking a vitamin H supplement only addresses the biotin deficiency.
Because vitamins are so readily available through countless venues, it is possible to find supplements containing vitamin H just about anywhere you live. Multivitamin formulas are available at your local supermarket, pharmacy, health food store, and so on.
Vitamins are also the staple commodity for many online retailers, so you shouldn't have problems finding a formula with vitamin H included. Most multivitamin formulas range anywhere from $10 to $30 depending on the number of tablets they contain per bottle and the daily recommended dosage.
The National Academies Press lists the daily recommended intake of vitamin H at 25 to 30mcg for the average healthy adult. They recognize daily dosages of various levels at all stages of life, from infancy through old age. It is interesting that they list both daily recommended intake and tolerable intake in their publications.
Breastfeeding women are recommended to take a higher dosage of approximately 35 mcg daily. This is in order to help avoid a biotin deficiency until the child is weaned.
If a woman is being treated for biotin deficiency throughout her pregnancy, daily supplementation of vitamin H becomes even more important during breastfeeding. Using vitamin H supplements while breastfeeding is deemed safe. There have been no documented side effects involving breastfed infants.
Toxicity is always a concern with any supplement human beings ingest. However, there have been no documented adverse side effects from taking vitamin H, even in extremely large dosages.
The benefits of taking vitamin supplements have been documented in certain dosages for certain purposes. Taking amounts higher than the recommended daily intake do not seem produce any additional benefits, making this practice unnecessary.
Vitamins B and C can cause an upset stomach and even vomiting if taken in excess. This should be normally on a short term basis and should last only as long as the vitamins remain in the digestive tract.
There have been cases of certain individuals vomiting before the excess vitamins are fully digested, perhaps as a way for the body to regulate itself against toxicity. There are no known cases of vitamin H toxicity to date. Always contact your physician if you suspect you are suffering adverse effects from excess vitamin H.
To locate and compare nutritional products which contain vitamin H, use the supplement finder now!
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| Biotin, B Vitamin Complex |
| Hair Loss |
| Skin Issues |
| Breaks Down Nutrients For Use |