Description
Biotin is a part of the vitamin B complex group of vitamins and is also known as B7. As a group, B vitamins are essential for the body as it converts food (carbohydrates) into energy (glucose). The body then experiences this energy on a cellular level as well as overall energy. B complex vitamins also aid the body in metabolizing fats and protein for this purpose. They also promote healthy skin, hair, nails, eyes, nervous system, and liver.
The word “biotin” comes from the Greek word biotos, which means growth or sustenance. This is especially fitting because biotin is a crucial nutrient for pregnant women, helping sustain embryonic growth during pregnancy. Biotin is also known as vitamin H, as a reference to the German Haar und Haut, or hair and health. This critical vitamin certainly fulfills that promise, as it is known for keeping both hair and body healthy.
What Does Biotin Do For You?
Biotin is essential for the metabolization of carbohydrates, amino acids (structures that form long chains to build proteins), and even fats. In fact, Biotin is vital to the process of creating fuel for the body’s cells and contributes to the building of proteins. Biotin is also often recommended to maintain and strengthen nails and hair. For that reason, it can be found in several supplements and beauty products meant to improve hair and nails.
Biotin also helps the body maintain healthy immune and nervous systems. In fact, B complex vitamins all contribute to the immune and nervous systems, and biotin can support their efficient functioning. More specifically, biotin contributes to the creation of the myelin sheath, a vast, complex network of protective coverings that shield nerve cells from damage – including those in the brain and spinal cord. As mentioned, biotin is also a critical nutrient during pregnancy, as it contributes to normal embryonic growth and helps the mother maintain a full-term pregnancy.
Benefits of Biotin Supplements
Taking biotin supplements can benefit the body in many ways. Overall, the regular consumption of biotin helps give your body access to an essential vitamin necessary for proper growth and energy production. Here are some more specific benefits of biotin supplementation.
Metabolism Regulation
Biotin is important for helping regulate metabolism levels within the body. Regular consumption of biotin can improve metabolic rates through the increased conversion of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into energy the body can use to sustain healthy functioning.
Heart Health
One of the major benefits of all B complex vitamins is the prevention of possible heart issues. Deficiencies in B vitamins may be a significant risk factor for heart failure. Increased biotin consumption may stimulate blood flow inside the heart and prevent cardiac issues. Biotin helps increase the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and decreases the levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which reduces heart risks.
Stronger Hair and Nails
A major reason many people use biotin supplements is the hair and nail benefits. Those struggling with weak or brittle hair and nails can benefit from biotin, as it supports new healthy hair and nail growth. In particular, biotin supports the production of fatty acids that nourish the skin and contributes to healthier hair and nails. Biotin also stimulates the production of keratin in hair and can increase the rate of follicle growth.
Type 2 Diabetes Management
The above-mentioned study also indicates that biotin is an essential vitamin for managing Type 2 diabetes. Biotin helps reduce blood sugar levels by increasing insulin protection and addressing glucose production in the body. Additional regulation of blood lipid levels can help aid in the management of Type 2 diabetes.
Immunity
B-complex vitamin deficiencies, especially biotin, are a risk factor for immune deficiencies. Biotin boosts immune power through increased production of white blood cells. This not only helps the immune system fight bacteria and viruses but may also decrease unwanted inflammation as a result of immune issues.
Why Should You Take Biotin Supplements?
Those looking to maintain a healthy life, whether by focusing on nourished hair and nails or the many metabolic and immune benefits, should consider taking biotin supplements. When you buy biotin supplements to support your daily intake of this essential vitamin, you are supplying your body with a building block to support energy creation. You are also nourishing your body so you can maintain your health, both inside and out.
Are you looking for a way to improve your metabolism, immune health, hair, skin, nails, and more? This supplement comes in convenient 10 mg tablets in a 120-count bottle. Stock up for your health today.
Biotin Supplement FAQs
If you’re considering supplementing with biotin, it’s important to learn all the information you can about this essential vitamin. Here are the answers to some of our most common questions about biotin.
Does the Body Make or Store Biotin?
B vitamins are water-soluble, including biotin. This means that the body does not store biotin because it is dissolved and used quickly. It’s important to know that while bacteria in the intestines can make biotin to supply the body with an adequate amount of the vitamin, conditions like pregnancy, liver disease, taking certain anti-seizure medications, and even smoking can deplete biotin more quickly. Consuming the right foods or taking biotin supplements can ensure the body can continue to create cellular fuel.
How Can You Get More Biotin?
Biotin can be found in small amounts in various foods and food groups. For example, you can find biotin in whole grains as well as animal-based proteins like salmon, liver, cooked egg yolk, and sardines. Look for biotin in other protein sources like nuts (try walnuts, almonds, pecans, and nut butters) and legumes (try black-eyed peas or soybeans). Other sources include vegetables like cauliflower, fruits like bananas, and even mushrooms. Unfortunately, food processing techniques often interfere with the biotin content of these foods and could even destroy all the existing biotin. Less-processed versions of these foods will contain more substantial biotin levels.
If the listed foods are not part of your regular diet, biotin is also widely available as a stand-alone supplement. It is also often available as a part of a multivitamin or B-vitamin complex supplement. The standard preparations are typically in 10 mcg, 50 mcg, and 100 mcg, though 10 mg supplements are increasingly common.
Can Biotin Help Prevent Hair Loss?
Biotin can be used both to support healthy hair growth as well as to treat hair loss. However, biotin helps treat hair loss best in those with a biotin deficiency. For others with average biotin levels, biotin can contribute to healthy hair and to aid the hair growth process.
What Kind of Biotin Is Best for Hair Growth?
For hair growth, reviews suggest that a stand-alone biotin supplement for hair growth may be better than taking biotin in a multivitamin. Multivitamins will contain other vitamins that you may not need, so taking just the biotin is sure to supply your body with this essential vitamin. Not all biotin supplements are created equal, so it is important to make sure the biotin supplement you’re taking does not have any extra additives you don’t need.
Can You Be Biotin-Deficient?
Extremely low levels of biotin can result in biotin deficiency. Severe deficiencies may cause:
- Neurological issues
- Decreased muscle mass and tone
- Sluggishness
- Developmental delay in infants
- Seizures
While severe biotin deficiencies are rare, it is not uncommon to have suboptimal levels of this important vitamin. A mild biotin deficiency can include the following symptoms:
- Hair thinning
- Hair loss
- Brittle nails
- Skin infections
- Conjunctivitis
- Red, scaly rash around the eyes, nose, and mouth
For most people, taking biotin supplements and eating a healthy diet with biotin-rich foods is enough to reverse these effects. Biotin is rarely a “cure” for the above ailments; rather, it is a nutrient that helps the body function as it needs to.
Who Is at Risk for Biotin Deficiency?
Biotin deficiencies are often linked to medications and health conditions. Those who are consistently on antibiotics or take anti-seizure medications may be at increased risk for biotin deficiency. In addition, those who have diabetes, patients on dialysis, and pregnant women may be at risk for being biotin deficient. Those who do not have a biotin deficiency can safely take biotin supplements. Biotin offers several health benefits, both internal and external.
What Form of Biotin is Best?
Though biotin can be found in food sources, taking biotin supplements ensures that the body has enough biotin to support the vital production of energy for the body. Biotin supplements are best consumed as a caplet with water. This enables the body to access biotin directly from the blood.
Is Biotin Harmful?
You should take biotin in its recommended dose, according to your age, weight, metabolism, and dosage instructions. However, there are no known toxicity symptoms associated with too much biotin. Rarely, people exposed to too much biotin may experience stomach pain or excessive thirst. Due to biotin’s water-solubility, any extra biotin will naturally pass through your system when you urinate.
How Long Will It Take to See Results from Biotin Supplements?
It usually takes about 30 days to see results while using any supplement, including biotin supplements. It may take up to 90 days for some individuals. This is a normal part of supplementation.
Does Biotin Have Negative Interactions With Any Medications?
There are no known negative interactions between biotin and any medications currently on the market. Anti-seizure medications, some antibiotics, and nicotine can decrease biotin levels, which is something to be aware of. In this case, it may be doubly beneficial to consider a biotin supplement.
How Is Biotin Most Often Used?
Biotin is most popular as a supplement to maintain healthy hair and nails because it supports new growth and may inhibit loss. Taking biotin supplements also offers a variety of other health benefits. Supplementation may help protect the heart, boost immunity, address inflammation, manage Type 2 diabetes, support a healthy metabolism, and more.
What Ingredients Should You Look for or Avoid in a Biotin Supplement?
Not all supplements are made equal, and there are key ingredients to avoid in all vitamin supplements, including biotin. These toxins and fillers include titanium dioxide, magnesium silicate, hydrogenated oil, colorings like red 40, blue 2, and yellow 5, and any artificial flavoring.
Who Should Take Biotin?
Everyone can take biotin, and everyone can benefit from the various positive health factors it provides. It is especially helpful for pregnant women and mothers who are breastfeeding because of the benefits it offers. In addition, those who are more at risk of being biotin-deficient, such as people with liver issues, people on dialysis, and people taking antibiotics or anticonvulsants, should consider supplementation.
Should Pregnant Women Take Biotin Supplements?
Pregnant women are at risk for becoming biotin deficient while supporting both their health as well as the embryo’s health. Biotin is important for pregnant women because it supports embryonic growth during pregnancy. Physicians often recommend biotin supplementation for pregnant women.
Does Biotin Cause Weight Gain?
There is no scientific research to support that biotin is causally linked to weight gain, despite some claims. If the appropriate amount of biotin is consumed per individual in supplement form, there will be no significant impact on body weight.
Is Biotin Good for Skin?
Biotin can provide strength to the skin through the production of the fatty acids that help protect it. When biotin is used as a component of a healthy diet and supplement routine, people often report improvements in the skin as well.
Resources :
- https://aspenjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0884533612444539
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0140673679900023
- https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.1046800/full
- https://www.healthline.com/health/the-benefits-of-biotin#cosmetic-claims
- https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-313/biotin
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