Biotin's therapeutic uses
Biotin, a water-soluble B vitamin, is primarily known for its role in energy metabolism and is often discussed in the context of its therapeutic uses. It is commonly suggested for supplementation during pregnancy and for promoting the health of hair, skin, and nails. Biotin may help individuals with brittle nails, support infants with cradle cap, and assist people with diabetic neuropathy by potentially improving blood sugar control. The vitamin is also explored for its possible benefits for individuals on anticonvulsant medications and in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Although biotin deficiency is rare, some evidence suggests that pregnant women may benefit from supplementation due to potential slight deficiencies. Recommended dosages vary: for diabetes, daily intake can range from 7,000 to 15,000 mcg, while lower amounts are suggested for brittle nails and cradle cap. Most studies supporting biotin's efficacy are preliminary and have limitations, indicating the need for further research. Overall, biotin appears safe, though maximum dosages for certain populations have not been clearly established.
Biotin's therapeutic uses
DEFINITION: Natural substance used as a supplement to treat specific health conditions.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USE: Supplementation during pregnancy; hair, skin, and nail health
OTHER PROPOSED USES: Brittle nails, cradle cap in children, diabetic neuropathy, improving blood sugar control in diabetes, support for individuals on anticonvulsant, treating multiple sclerosis
Overview
Biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin that plays an important role in metabolizing the energy humans obtain from food. Biotin assists four essential enzymes that break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.
Biotin deficiency is rare, except, possibly, among pregnant women. All proposed therapeutic uses of biotin supplements are highly speculative.
Requirements and Sources
Although biotin is a necessary nutrient, humans usually get enough from bacteria living in the digestive tract. Severe biotin deficiency has been seen in people who frequently eat large quantities of raw egg whites. Raw egg whites contain a protein that blocks the absorption of biotin. Cooked egg whites do not present this problem. Most people do get enough biotin from their diets.
The official US and Canadian recommendations for daily intake of biotin are as follows: for infants, newborn to five months, 5 micrograms (mcg); six to eleven months, 6 mcg; for children, one to three years, 8 mcg; four to eight years, 12 mcg; and nine to thirteen years, 20 mcg; for teenagers, fourteen to eighteen years, 25 mcg; and for adults nineteen years and older, 30 mcg. Recommended intake for pregnant women is 30 mcg and for nursing women 35 mcg. Good dietary sources of biotin include brewer’s yeast, nutritional (torula) yeast, whole grains, nuts, egg yolks, sardines, legumes, liver, cauliflower, bananas, and mushrooms.
There is some evidence that slight biotin deficiency may occur during normal pregnancy. For this reason, pregnant women are advised to take a prenatal vitamin that contains the recommended amount of biotin. Most women, however, do get enough biotin in their everyday diet.
Therapeutic Dosages
For people with diabetes, the usual recommended dosage of biotin is 7,000 to 15,000 mcg daily. For treating “cradle cap” (a scaly head rash often found in infants), the usual dosage of biotin is 6,000 mcg daily, given to the nursing mother (not the child). A lower dosage of 3,000 mcg daily is used to treat brittle fingernails and toenails.
There are indirect indications that individuals taking antiseizure medications might benefit from biotin supplementation at nutritional doses. However, it has been suggested that biotin should be taken at least two hours before or after the medication dose to avoid potential interference with the medication’s absorption. In addition, excessive biotin supplementation (above nutritional needs) should be avoided because it might interfere with seizure control. All these proposed interactions are speculative, and even if they do exist, they may not be important enough to make a difference in real life.
Therapeutic Uses
Only some of the proposed therapeutic uses for biotin have been subject to a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. However, other uses have shown promise in animal, laboratory, or observational studies. Preliminary research suggests that supplemental biotin might help reduce blood sugar levels in people with either type 1 (childhood-onset) or type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes and possibly reduce the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. In patients with a confirmed biotin deficiency, supplementing with biotin has been shown to reduce symptoms such as rash, hair loss, and neurological problems. Biotin is often found in supplements promoting healthy skin, hair, and nails. Preliminary research has indicated biotin may reduce the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
Scientific Evidence
Limited double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have been reported on these potential uses of biotin. Two double-blind studies have found benefits for diabetes with a mixture of biotin and chromium; however, it is unclear how much the biotin in this combination contributed. Other small-scale studies have indicated biotin can improve glycemic control in people with diabetes, but a more extensive study over a longer time is necessary.
Weak evidence, too weak to rely upon, has been used to support the theory that biotin supplements are helpful for brittle nails. Still, biotin remains one of the most popular nail supplements. Studies looking into the efficacy of biotin for hair, skin, and nails have shown mixed results. Small double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have shown clear benefits of biotin for treating cradle cap.
Safety Issues
Biotin appears to be quite safe. However, maximum safe dosages for young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease have not been established.
Important Interactions
Persons taking anticonvulsant medications may need extra biotin but should not take more than the dosage recommendations listed in the Requirements and Sources section. In addition, one should take the vitamin two to three hours apart from the medication.
Bibliography
Albarracin, C. A., et al. "Chromium Picolinate and Biotin Combination Improves Glucose Metabolism in Treated, Uncontrolled Overweight to Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes." Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Review, vol. 24, 2008, pp. 41-51.
"Biotin - Health Professional Fact Sheet." NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, 10 Jan. 2022, ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Biotin-HealthProfessional. Accessed 6 Sept. 2024.
Kalman, Douglas, and Susan Hewlings. "A Randomized Double-Blind Evaluation of a Novel Biotin and Silicon Ingredient Complex on the Hair and Skin of Healthy Women." Journal of Clinical & Experimental Dermatology Research, vol. 12, 2021, DOI: 10.35248/2155-9554.21.12.551. Accessed 6 Sept. 2024.
Li, Danni, et al. "Trends in Daily Use of Biotin Supplements Among US Adults, 1999-2016." Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), vol. 324, no. 6, pp. 605-07, 12 Dec. 2022, jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2769254. Accessed 12 Dec. 2022.
Mock, D. M., J. G. Quirk, and N. I. Mock. "Marginal Biotin Deficiency During Normal Pregnancy." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 75, 2002, pp. 295-299.
Singer, G. M., and J. Geohas. "The Effect of Chromium Picolinate and Biotin Supplementation on Glycemic Control in Poorly Controlled Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus." Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics, vol. 8, 2006, pp. 636-643.