Biotin, a B vitamin, is an important part of enzymes that break down substances such as fats, carbohydrates, and amino acids in the body. Biotin is also known as vitamin B7 or vitamin H.
It can be found in small amounts of biotin in various foods. Biotin is generally available in supplement form and is commonly used to treat hepatitis, brittle nails, neuropathy (damage or dysfunction of one or more nerves), and other conditions.
Your body uses biotin to regulate your genes and help your cells communicate. The amount of biotin you need depends on your age. For adults 19 years and older, the recommended daily intake of biotin is 30 micrograms (mcg). Lactating women should consume 35 micrograms per day.
There is evidence that biotin supports hair, nerve, and digestive tract health; however, future research is needed to confirm these uses:
healthy hair
Research has shown that when people prone to hair loss take biotin supplements, their hair health and quality experience clinical improvements.
nerve health
Biotin has long been thought to help nerves recover from damage, such as those caused by multiple sclerosis. However, recent studies have shown that taking high doses of biotin has no apparent long-term benefits for neurological health.
aid in digestion
Biotin is an important digestive vitamin. In addition to breaking down compounds in the food you eat, it also converts folic acid into its active form, which helps your body make new red blood cells. Biotin is mainly used to treat biotin deficiency.
Since there is no good way to detect low levels of biotin, the condition is often identified by its symptoms, which include:
hair loss
A scaly rash around the eyes, nose, mouth, and genitals
frustrated
lethargy (lack of energy)
hallucination
Numbness in the extremities (hands or feet)
Ataxia (Nervous System Disorders)
seizures
Biotin deficiency is caused by a diet deficient in biotin or by long-term consumption of raw protein. There is also some evidence that diabetes may cause low biotin levels.
