Biotin: The all-rounder for skin, hair, and more

What is Biotin?

Biotin belongs to the group of B vitamins and is also known as Vitamin B7 or Vitamin H. Like almost all B vitamins, biotin is not stored in the body and must be regularly consumed through the diet.

Why does our body need Biotin?

Biotin is involved in central metabolic reactions as a coenzyme. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has approved a total of seven health claims for biotin:

Biotin contributes to

• energy metabolism
• the function of the nervous system
• the metabolism of macronutrients
• normal psychological function
• the maintenance of hair
• the maintenance of normal mucous membranes
• the maintenance of skin

In which foods is Biotin found?

Foods high in biotin include nuts, sunflower seeds, and offal such as liver and kidneys. Other good sources are oatmeal, mushrooms, egg yolk, as well as milk and dairy products, which also contribute to daily biotin intake.

What is the daily Biotin requirement?

The biotin requirement increases with age and is estimated at 40 µg per day for adults. During breastfeeding, the recommendation increases to 45 µg per day. Dietary deficiency is rare and only occurs with very unbalanced diets high in raw egg white or with artificial nutrition without adequate biotin supplementation.

What are the symptoms of Biotin deficiency?

A biotin deficiency is almost never seen in people who eat a balanced diet. Actual symptoms of deficiency, such as delayed growth, skin changes, hair loss, lethargy, or neurological disorders, have so far only been observed in exceptional cases. Risk factors include, in addition to those already mentioned, alcohol consumption, smoking, and the use of medications to prevent epileptic seizures. Celiac disease or chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis impair nutrient absorption and also increase the likelihood of biotin deficiency.

A particular condition is biotinidase deficiency, a congenital metabolic disorder that affects one in 80,000 newborns. Biotinidase is an enzyme needed to release protein-bound biotin. If it is absent or its activity is impaired, developmental disorders, seizures, hearing and vision impairments, skin changes, and low blood pressure can occur. Since early treatment is necessary to avoid long-term damage, newborn screening tests for this deficiency just a few days after birth. Treatment is done by lifelong administration of free biotin in pharmacological doses between 5 and 20 mg per day.

Can too much Biotin be harmful?

So far, no adverse side effects have been observed even with high doses of biotin, as excess biotin is excreted through the kidneys.

Biotin from BioProphyl

The Vitamin B-Complex from BioProphyl contains biotin in its natural combination with all other B vitamins, derived from quinoa sprouts. Two capsules already cover more than 100% of the daily requirement, making it ideal for ensuring daily intake.