Biotin  Health Benefits  

Biotin is a B-complex vitamin, Biotin is a water soluble, however most foods are poor sources of biotin. Biotin-rich foods are egg yolk, kidney, liver and some cheeses.

A portion of the biotin comes from the intestinal flora (such as E coli and bifidobacteria) found in a healthy human gut.

Biotin deficiency

Symptoms of biotin deficiency include; hair loss, brittle nails, Candida, immune deficiencies and muscle weakness. 

Some neurological symptoms of deficiency reported in adults are depression,  hallucination and numbness and tingling, impaired immune system function and fungal infections. In its physiologically active form biotin is attached at the active site of four important enzymes, these are known as carboxylases. Each carboxylase catalyses an essential metabolic reaction in the body.

DNA replication and transcription

Biotin may also play a role in DNA replication and transcription, via the biotinylation of histones. Histones are proteins that bind to DNA and package it into compact structures to form chromosomes. The attachment of biotin to another molecule, such as a protein, is known as biotinylation. Biotinidase (the enzyme which “recycles” biotin) has recently been shown to catalyse the biotinylation of histones, leading to the suggestion of a possible role of biotin in DNA replication and transcription. 

Low magnesium can cause biotin deficiency.

Dosing 

We see quite a wide range  – from 200 mcg to as high as 10,000 mcg (10mg) daily. 

However, the most common strengths we see are between 1,000 – 3,000mcg (1 – 3mg) daily. 

Biotin is not known to be toxic. 

Toxicity has not been reported with daily oral doses of up to 10 mg, used to treat hereditary disorders of biotin metabolism and biotin deficiency.

biotin

---