Benefits of Biotin

What is Biotin? What are the benefits of biotin? What are biotin side effects?

Biotin, which is water soluble, is one of the eight B complex vitamins, and is also known by the name vitamin H or vitamin B7. It is a vitamin whose role you rarely hear about, but it is an essential nutrient, since it is necessary for the metabolism of amino acids and fats, production of fatty acids and cell growth.

There are two general natural sources of biotin. The first is the intestines of the human body, where biotin is produced naturally. The second is the food that we eat. Legumes, kidney and liver meats, nuts, sardines, egg yolk, soy, bananas, brewer's yeast, mushrooms, oatmeal and cauliflower are the different foods that are good natural sources of biotin.

Generally, the benefits of biotin for infants are for the prevention of impaired growth and neurological disorders and the prevention of developmental delay. In adults, typically its deficiency does not cause such symptoms.

In some studies of diabetics, biotin has effects on reducing their high level of blood sugar and on metabolizing carbohydrates. Diabetic could benefit from taking biotin vitamin supplements.

For some reasons, a patient on intravenous feeding tubes is at risk for Biotin deficiency, so he can benefit from biotin supplements to replace this crucial vitamin in his diet.

In case of infants, who can be of serious risk due to their milk-based diet, biotin supplements are mixed with liquid and powdered infant formulas.

Hair loss or balding or thinning hair is a sign of biotin deficiency. Benefits of biotin supplements are to maintain healthy hair and stop hair loss. High levels of biotin in individuals help keep their hair shiny and healthy and possibly even maintain hair color.

Rashes on the facial areas and brittle nails are other signs of biotin deficiency. Biotin supplements are beneficial in these cases.

Big consumers of alcohol as well as those who are on anti-seizure medications will benefit from biotin vitamin supplements.

Other individuals who can benefit from biotin are those who suffer from muscle pains and those who risk biotin deficiency like pregnant women, who are often given biotin vitamin supplements. Persons whose small intestines have been partially removed are also at risk, since the intestines are natural sources of biotin. They, too, can have the benefits of biotin.

Normal dose of biotin is 30 micrograms for women and 25 micrograms for men. For pregnant women, it is 35 micrograms. Biotin may help in regulating blood sugar and to metabolize carbohydrates if diabetics take large doses from 7,000 to 15,000 micrograms. But the advice of a doctor is recommended.

Is there any biotin side effects? If taken in normal dosages, biotin generally has no side effects.

There is also no problem with overdose of biotin. Excess biotin is excreted in the urine. Reports of overdose effects are few, and those reports do not establish that biotin really caused the side effects.

Though there are no side effects, even in high doses, taking biotin has still the potential for side effects of interactions with medications. Therefore, the supervision of a health care provider is highly recommended to get fully the benefits of biotin.

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