Biotin Supplements

Biotin is a vitamin which is essential for maintaining overall health of the body. Though biotin is commonly known as vitamin H, it belongs to the group of vitamin B complex, which are responsible for the conversion of fats, carbohydrates and proteins into energy. It is biotin vitamin which is mainly responsible for the growth of healthy hair as well as maintaining healthy skin, eyes, and nails. Biotin also has the responsibility of stimulating the enzymes which are necessary for the proper functioning of the liver, intestinal tract, and the nervous system. As biotin has so many important functions, a drop in the level of biotin can give rise to various health problems. However, biotin deficiency is a very rare problem because biotin can be found in many of the foods that we consume. Moreover, the human body has the ability of recycling biotin on its own. However, certain conditions can give rise to biotin deficiency which can be cured with supplements. Here, you can take a look at some of the advantages as well as disadvantages of biotin.

Biotin Deficiency

As I said earlier, biotin deficiency is not a common occurrence, i.e., not many people are found with this deficiency. Some of the factors that can give rise to this deficiency include genetic disorders, stomach or intestinal problems and alcoholism. It has also been observed that people who have to consume anti seizure medications or antibiotics for a long time as treatment for some disease are likely to have this deficiency. Other than this, patients who have been on intravenous feeding for a long time can suffer from biotin deficiency. Also, people who consume raw egg whites regularly may also have this problem because they contain a protein called avidin which adheres to the biotin, decreasing its ability to function properly. Some of the symptoms of biotin deficiency include hair loss, brittle nails, loss of appetite, depression, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, skin rash and anemia. If the level of biotin in the body is extremely low, it can also give rise to high cholesterol as well as heart problems.

Benefits of Supplements

When a person is diagnosed with biotin deficiency, it is important for him to take supplements along with his diet. The dosage of the biotin supplement that can be given to an adult suffering from this is 300 micro grams everyday. These supplements can help in preventing hair loss and for the growth of thick and healthy hair. Due to this, it is also said that many of the hair as well as skin care products contain biotin. Apart from this, these supplements can also help in treating brittle nails which chip and break easily. Biotin fortified supplements can also help in losing weight because this is one of the main element that transforms the carbohydrates, proteins and fats into energy. These supplements are often recommended to infants who suffer from the problem of seborrheic dermatitis which is caused due to the deficiency of biotin in the body.

Side Effects of Supplements

These supplements do not cause any side effects, if taken in adequate doses. Whether high doses of biotin cause toxicity is not a known. Hence, it is important to be very careful while taking biotin during pregnancy. Most women are likely to suffer from biotin deficiency during pregnancy which may give rise to birth defects. In such situations, taking supplements becomes very important. However, studies conducted on pregnant rats have shown that too much of biotin hampered fetal as well as placental growth and can also lead to miscarriages. Although there is no evidence whether the same thing can happen to pregnant women, it would always be better to avoid taking more than normal doses of biotin when one is pregnant. More on biotin side effects.

As there is not much evidence on side effects of biotin on human beings, one must not consume them without consulting the doctor. Moreover, a safe way of curing biotin deficiency would be to consume foods that contain biotin including cooked egg yolks, milk, lentils, liver, poultry, soybeans, nuts, butter, whole grains, sunflower seeds, oats, etc. Consuming these foods can help in getting rid of biotin deficiency quickly.