Biotin Health Benefits

teatreeApplications for higher biotin doses

  • Studies show significant triglycerides and VLDL reduction though total cholesterol levels remained unchanged.
  • Studies show improvement in nail growth in 91% of trial group using 2500µg biotin and another giving 25% increase in nail thickness.
  • Abnormal glucose metabolism improves with biotin. Also shown to enhance muscle insulin sensitivity. Due to effects on glucose metabolism, caution may be required with any glucose-lowering drugs and insulin.

Best biotin food sources.

  • Swiss chard -particularly rich source
  • Vegetables – esp. carrots, onions, cucumber, cauliflower
  • Nuts- esp. almonds and walnuts
  • Milk – cows’ and goats’
  • Fruit – particularly strawberries   and raspberries
  • Halibut

Approved health claims for biotin

–  Normal energy-yielding metabolism

–  Normal functioning of nervous system

–  Normal macronutrient metabolism

–  Normal psychological function

–  Maintenance of normal hair

–  Maintenance of normal skin

–  Maintenance of normal mucous membranes

Biotin deficiency may be caused by:

  • Over-consumption of raw egg white as they contain avidin which reduces biotin absorption.
  • Intestinal problems causing poor absorption
  • Poor gut flora levels can reduce biotin synthesis.
  • Pregnancy; one study showed 50% of pregnant women had biotin deficiencies which were easily reversed with short-term supplementation.
  • Smoking & alcohol
  • Long term anticonvulsant therapy

Biotin deficiencies may lead to:

  • Low B5 levels as it works with biotin in many metabolic processes.
  • Low mood; biotin required for serotonin synthesis
  • Poor fatty acid synthesis as ∆6 desaturase and ∆5 desaturase enzymes activity rely on biotin and other nutrients (fig 1).
  • Dyslipidaemia (poor blood fat profiles e.g. high triglycerides and poor LDL: HDL ratios)
  • Abnormal glucose metabolism
  • Abnormal gene expression and DNA repair.
  • Alopecia
  • Dermatitis