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Vitamin H, more commonly known as biotin, is part of the B complex group of vitamins. All B vitamins help the body to convert food (carbohydrates) into fuel (glucose), which is used to produce energy. These B vitamins often referred to as B complex vitamins, also help the body metabolize fats and protein. B complex vitamins are needed for healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver. They also help the nervous system function properly.
Your body needs biotin to metabolize carbohydrates, fats, and amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Biotin is often recommended for strengthening hair and nails, and it’s found in many cosmetic products for hair and skin.
Like all B vitamins, it is water-soluble, meaning the body does not store it. However, bacteria in the intestine can make biotin. It is also available in small amounts a number of foods. Biotin is also important for normal embryonic growth, making it a critical nutrient during pregnancy.
It’s rare to be deficient in biotin. Symptoms include hair loss, dry scaly skin, cracking in the corners of the mouth (called cheilitis), swollen and painful tongue that is magenta in color (glossitis), dry eyes, loss of appetite, fatigue, insomnia, and depression. People who have been on parenteral nutrition — nutrition given intravenously — for a long period of time, those taking antiseizure medication or antibiotics long-term, and people with conditions like Crohn’s disease that make it hard to absorb nutrients, are more likely to be deficient in biotin.
There are not many good-quality studies evaluating biotin. Many of its proposed uses are based on weak evidence or case reports:
Hair and Nail Problems
Very weak evidence suggests that biotin supplements may improve thin, splitting, or brittle toe and fingernails, as well as hair. Biotin, combined with zinc and topical clobetasol propionate, has also been used to combat alopecia areata in both children and adults.
Cradle Cap (Seborrheic Dermatitis)
Infants who don’t have enough biotin often develop this scaly scalp condition. However, no studies have shown that biotin supplements — given in formula or breast milk — effectively treat cradle cap. Always ask your doctor before taking any vitamin, herb, or supplement if you are breastfeeding.
insulin is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।" data-rx-term="diabetes" data-rx-definition="Diabetes is a condition where blood sugar stays too high because insulin is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।">Diabetes
Preliminary research indicates that a combination of biotin and chromium might improve blood sugar control in some people with type 2 insulin is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।" data-rx-term="diabetes" data-rx-definition="Diabetes is a condition where blood sugar stays too high because insulin is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।">diabetes, but biotin alone doesn’t seem to have the same effect. More research is needed to determine whether biotin has any benefit.
Peripheral pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness. সহজ বাংলা: স্নায়ুর ক্ষতি/সমস্যা।" data-rx-term="neuropathy" data-rx-definition="Neuropathy means nerve damage or irritation causing pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness. সহজ বাংলা: স্নায়ুর ক্ষতি/সমস্যা।">Neuropathy
There have been reports that biotin supplements improve the symptoms of peripheral pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness. সহজ বাংলা: স্নায়ুর ক্ষতি/সমস্যা।" data-rx-term="neuropathy" data-rx-definition="Neuropathy means nerve damage or irritation causing pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness. সহজ বাংলা: স্নায়ুর ক্ষতি/সমস্যা।">neuropathy for some people who developed this condition from either insulin is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।" data-rx-term="diabetes" data-rx-definition="Diabetes is a condition where blood sugar stays too high because insulin is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।">diabetes or ongoing dialysis for kidney failure. Peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage in the feet, hands, legs, or arms. Numbness, tingling, burning or strange sensations, pain, muscle weakness, and trouble walking are some symptoms. However, there aren’t any studies that evaluate whether biotin really helps treat peripheral neuropathy.
Other
At least one study suggests biotin may help restore taste among people who have lost their sense of taste. Patients supplemented their diets with 10-20 mg of biotin daily to produce the effects. More research is needed.
Dietary Sources
Biotin can be found in brewer’s yeast; cooked eggs, especially egg yolk; sardines; nuts (almonds, peanuts, pecans, walnuts) and nut butter; soybeans; other legumes (beans, blackeye peas); whole grains; cauliflower; bananas; and mushrooms.
Raw egg whites contain a protein called Avidin that interferes with the body’s absorption of biotin.
Food-processing techniques can destroy biotin. Less-processed versions of the foods listed above contain more biotin.
Available Forms
Biotin is available in multivitamins and B-vitamin complexes, and as individual supplements.
Standard preparations are available in 10 mcg, 50 mcg, and 100 mcg tablets and contain either simple biotin or a complex with brewer’s yeast.
How to Take It
As with all supplements, check with a health care provider before giving biotin to a child.
Adequate daily intakes for biotin from food, according to the National Academy of Sciences, are listed below.
Pediatric
- Infants birth – 6 months: 5 mcg
- Infants 7 – 12 months: 6 mcg
- Children 1 – 3 years: 8 mcg
- Children 4 – 8 years: 12 mcg
- Children 9 – 13 years: 20 mcg
- Adolescents 14 – 18 years: 25 mcg
Adult
- 19 years and older: 30 mcg
- Pregnant women: 30 mcg
- Breastfeeding women: 35 mcg
Precautions
Because of the potential for side effects and interactions with medications, you should take dietary supplements only under the supervision of a knowledgeable health care provider.
Nevertheless, biotin has not been associated with side effects, even in high doses, and is considered to be nontoxic.
Possible Interactions
Although there is no evidence that biotin interacts with any medication, there are some medications that may lower biotin levels. If you are taking any of the following medications, you should not use biotin without first talking to your health care provider.
Antibiotics — Long-term bacterial infections. সহজ বাংলা: ব্যাকটেরিয়ার সংক্রমণের ওষুধ।" data-rx-term="antibiotic" data-rx-definition="An antibiotic is a medicine used to treat bacterial infections. সহজ বাংলা: ব্যাকটেরিয়ার সংক্রমণের ওষুধ।">antibiotic use may lower biotin levels by destroying the bacteria in the gut that produces biotin.
Antiseizure Medications — Taking antiseizure or anticonvulsant medications for a long time can lower biotin levels in the body. Valproic acid can cause biotinidase deficiency, which may improve with biotin supplements. Ask your doctor before taking any supplements, however. Anticonvulsant medications include:
- Carbamazepine (Carbatrol)
- Phenobarbital
- Phenytoin (Dilantin)
- Primidone (Mysoline)
Function
Biotin (B7) has a key role in cellular energy metabolism, including ATP production and regulation of oxidative stress, since it is a crucial cofactor for five carboxylases that works for mitochondrial metabolism of glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids. Holocarboxylase synthetase plays a vital role in protein biotinylation, and protein biotinidase is essential for the release of biotin from biotinylated peptides.[rx][rx][rx]
Current evidence shows a vital role of biotin in gene expression and chromatin structure. Approximately 2000 genes have been identified so far that are biotin-dependent. Biotin is attached to histones, and this histone biotinylation appears to work in transcriptional repression of genes and thus maintain genome stability.[rx][rx][rx]
Biotin also regulates immunological and inflammatory functions. Patients with multiple carboxylase deficiency, which has links with biotin deficiency, have shown defects in B-cell and T-cell immunity. Biotin plays a key role in the function of natural killer (NK) lymphocytes and the generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. It shows a role in the maturation and responsiveness of immune cells. Evidence shows increasing interleukin-1-beta (IL-1-beta) and proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha in biotin deficiency. Biotin levels also affect transcriptional factors, such as NF-kappa B.[rx][rx]
In addition to the role biotin plays as a cofactor in various carboxylation reactions, recently, it has been observed that biotin plays important roles in gene expression and immune mechanisms.[rx][rx]
Five biotin-dependent carboxylases exist as inactive apo forms.[rx] These five biotin-dependent carboxylases are described below:[rx]
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Pyruvate carboxylase (PC) – catalyzes an important step in the gluconeogenesis, TCA cycle, and lipogenesis
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Propionyl-CoA carboxylase (PCC) – important in the metabolism of amino acids and odd-chain fatty acids
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3-Methylcrotonoyl-CoA carboxylase (MCC) – carries out the catabolism of leucine
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Acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC 1) – converts acetyl CoA to malonyl CoA, which is a significant step in lipid synthesis
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Acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2 (ACC 2) – has a regulatory function in fatty acid oxidation
Biotin deficiency can also manifest clinically due to genetic disorders leading to a lack of the enzyme holocarboxylase synthetase, or the individual carboxylase enzymes can be deficient. Biotinylation of histones may have an important role in gene expression. Biotin has also been observed to affect gene expression via other mechanisms. Many biotin-dependent genes have been studied in human cells. Some of these genes encode enzymes involved in glucose metabolism, cytokines like interleukin-2 and insulin receptors.[rx] Biotin has been reported to have a role in antibody production, differentiation of T and B lymphocytes, macrophage function, and the normal functioning of natural killer cells.[rx] Recurrent infections, particularly fungal, are commonly seen in patients with biotin deficiency.
References
- https://www.stlukes-stl.com/health-content/medicine/33/000342.htm
