Furukawa, Y. [Enhancement of glucose-induced insulin secretion and modification of glucose metabolism by biotin]. Nippon Rinsho 1999;57(10):2261-2269. View abstract. FDA advises health care providers to ask their patients about any supplements they may be taking that contain biotin and to consider biotin interference as a possible source of error if laboratory test results do not match the clinical presentation of the patient [ 32]. Interactions with Medications Helps maintain healthy hair, skin and mucous membranes – biotin helps on a cellular level to reproduce all cells in the body, including hair and skin – which have a particularly high cell turnover. Biotin, a B vitamin, is an essential nutrient that is naturally present in some foods and available as a dietary supplement. This water-soluble vitamin is a cofactor for five carboxylases (propionyl-CoA carboxylase, pyruvate carboxylase, methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase [MCC], acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1, and acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2) that catalyze critical steps in the metabolism of fatty acids, glucose, and amino acids [ 1-5]. Biotin also plays key roles in histone modifications, gene regulation (by modifying the activity of transcription factors), and cell signaling [ 3]. Li D, Radulescu A, Shrestha RT, Root M, Karger AB, Killeen AA, et al. Association of biotin ingestion with performance of hormone and nonhormone assays in healthy adults. JAMA 2017;318:1150-60. [ PubMed abstract]

Although there are no nationally representative estimates of biotin intakes in the United States, the average biotin intake from foods in other western populations is about 35–70 mcg/day, indicating that most people in these countries consume adequate amounts of biotin [ 2, 3]. Biotin Deficiency Fujimoto W, Inaoki M, Fukui T, Inoue Y, Kuhara T. Biotin deficiency in an infant fed with amino acid formula. J Dermatol 2005;32:256-61. [ PubMed abstract]Intake recommendations for biotin and other nutrients are provided in the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) developed by the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine [ 1]. DRI is the general term for a set of reference values used for planning and assessing nutrient intakes of healthy people. These values, which vary by age and sex, include the following: CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you. Biotin also helps us maintain normal healthy hair and skin. 6 Our bodies use it to enable cells to reproduce properly, and skin and hair have a high cell-turnover.

Krause KH, Bonjour JP, Berlit P, Kochen W. Biotin status of epileptics. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1985;447:297-313. View abstract. Tell your doctor, pharmacist, and other health care providers about any dietary supplements and prescription or over-the-counter medicines you take. They can tell you if the dietary supplements might interact with your medicines or laboratory tests, or if the medicines might interfere with how your body absorbs, uses, or breaks down nutrients such as biotin. Biotin and healthful eating You can also take biotin in supplement form too, and the recommended intake for adults is between 30 and 100 micrograms (mcg) a day. Biotin has not been shown to cause any harm. However, supplements that contain biotin above recommended amounts may cause false results in some lab tests, including those that measure levels of certain hormones, like thyroid hormone. Does biotin interact with medications or other dietary supplements? Adequate Intake (AI): Intake at this level is assumed to ensure nutritional adequacy; established when evidence is insufficient to develop an RDA

Supporting energy metabolism – biotin helps to convert the proteins, fats and carbs from our food into energy. Biotin is likely effective in alternative medicine as an aid in treating or preventing low levels of biotin. Low levels of biotin can be caused by malnutrition, rapid weight loss, long-term tube feeding, and other medical conditions.

Pacheco-Alvarez, D., Solorzano-Vargas, R. S., Gravel, R. A., Cervantes-Roldan, R., Velazquez, A., and Leon-Del-Rio, A. Paradoxical regulation of biotin utilization in brain and liver and implications for inherited multiple carboxylase deficiency. J Biol Chem. 12-10-2004;279(50):52312-52318. View abstract. However, there’s limited evidence to support this particular use for biotin because most people aren’t deficient in biotin — despite its popularity as a hair, skin, and nails vitamin ( 12). Biotin is available in tablet, liquid, and capsule formulations. Do not use different formulations of biotin at the same time without medical advice. Using different formulations together increases the risk of an overdose of biotin. Shils ME, Olson JA, Shike M, Ross AC, eds. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease. 9th ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1999. Waghray A, Milas M, Nyalakonda K, Siperstein AE. Falsely low parathyroid hormone secondary to biotin interference: a case series. Endocr Pract 2013;19(3):451-5. View abstract.

Top 5 Biotin Supplements

Future studies are needed to determine whether biotin supplements might improve hair, nail, and skin health, especially among healthy individuals. Health Risks from Excessive Biotin