Miller, S. J. Nutritional deficiency and the skin. J Am.Acad.Dermatol. 1989;21(1):1-30. View abstract. Sharma A, Baumann NA, Shah P. Biotin-induced biochemical Graves disease: a teachable moment. JAMA Intern Med 2017;177:571-2. [ PubMed abstract]

Shriver, B. J., Roman-Shriver, C., and Allred, J. B. Depletion and repletion of biotinyl enzymes in liver of biotin-deficient rats: evidence of a biotin storage system. J Nutr. 1993;123(6):1140-1149. View abstract. It’s a very busy and often underlooked vitamin! Biotin has multiple important functions in the body, including: 3 Biotin supplements are often glamorized as a treatment for hair loss and to promote healthy hair, skin, and nails. Although a deficiency of biotin can certainly lead to hair loss and skin or nail problems, evidence showing a benefit of supplementation is inconclusive. A handful of case reports and small trials have shown a benefit, but the study designs had weaknesses: Biotin is believed to help support our hair, skin and nails, as well as deliver several other health benefits. However, biotin’s ability to help in these three areas, particularly hair, is yet to be widely proven. Biotin is available in dietary supplements containing biotin only, in supplements containing combinations of B-complex vitamins, and in some multivitamin/mineral products [ 16]. The absorption rate of oral, free biotin is 100%, even when people consume pharmacologic doses of up to 20 mg/day biotin [ 17]. Biotin Intakes and StatusElston MS, Sehgal S, Du Toit S, Yarndley T, Conaglen JV. Factitious Graves' disease due to biotin immunoassay interference‒acase and review of the literature. J Clin EndocrinolMetab 2016;101:3251-5. [ PubMed abstract] Fiume MZ. Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. Final report on the safety assessment of biotin. Int J Toxicol. 2001;20 Suppl 4:1-12. View abstract. Pregnant or breastfeeding women often benefit from a prenatal vitamin,” says Barth. “Prenatal vitamins contain biotin, folic acid and other nutrients that are important for the health of the mother and baby. If you’re not sure which prenatal vitamin to take, ask your provider.” Do biotin supplements help with hair growth? The vast majority of people get their daily biotin intake from what they eat every day. Interestingly, it has been claimed boosting your biotin levels can help regulate blood sugar levels, boost hair growth and help with skin and nail health.

Biotin supplements are most commonly used to promote healthy hair or nail growth. Some of the symptoms of biotin deficiency are hair loss, skin changes, and brittle nails ( 1). Adequate Intake (AI): Intake at this level is assumed to ensure nutritional adequacy; established when evidence is insufficient to develop an RDA For more information about building a healthy dietary pattern, refer to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the USDA's MyPlate. Another case showed that eating raw eggs — particularly the whites of the eggs — on a regular basis can also create a biotin deficiency. In this instance, the deficiency brought about a condition called biotin-responsive limb weakness. This condition mimics quadriplegia. DakshinamurtiK. (2015). Vitamins and their derivatives in the prevention and treatment ofmetabolic syndrome diseases (diabetes). DOI:

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Third-party testing. It’s best to choose a supplement that has undergone third-party testing to ensure quality and purity. Many supplements on this list are third-party tested, and the rest are manufactured in CGMP certified facilities with in-house testing protocols. Shelley WB, Shelley ED. Uncombable hair syndrome: observations on response to biotin and occurrence in siblings with ectodermal dysplasia. J Am Acad Dermatol 1985;13:97-102. [ PubMed abstract] Biscolla RPM, Chiamolera MI, Kanashiro I, Maciel RMB, Vieira JGH. A single 10 mg oral dose of biotin interferes with thyroid function tests. Thyroid 2017;27:1099-1100. [ PubMed abstract]

Demas A, Cochin JP, Hardy C, Vaschalde Y, Bourre B, Labauge P. Tardive Reactivation of Progressive Multiple Sclerosis During Treatment with Biotin. Neurol Ther. 2019;9(1):181-185. View abstract. Well, studies have found that biotin can improve the keratin infrastructure within our bodies. How this actually happens, and how biotin helps hair and skin health, is still very much a mystery. Future studies are needed to determine whether biotin supplements might improve hair, nail, and skin health, especially among healthy individuals. Health Risks from Excessive BiotinSedel, F., Lyon-Caen, O., and Saudubray, J. M. [Treatable hereditary neuro-metabolic diseases]. Rev.Neurol.(Paris) 2007;163(10):884-896. View abstract. Zeng, W. Q., Al Yamani, E., Acierno, J. S., Jr., Slaugenhaupt, S., Gillis, T., MacDonald, M. E., Ozand, P. T., and Gusella, J. F. Biotin-responsive basal ganglia disease maps to 2q36.3 and is due to mutations in SLC19A3. Am.J Hum.Genet. 2005;77(1):16-26. View abstract. The federal government's 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans notes that "Because foods provide an array of nutrients and other components that have benefits for health, nutritional needs should be met primarily through foods. ... In some cases, fortified foods and dietary supplements are useful when it is not possible otherwise to meet needs for one or more nutrients (e.g., during specific life stages such as pregnancy)."