What is Biotin?

What conditions has it been used to treat?

What is Biotin?

Biotin is part of a group of vitamins called B complex. There are eight B vitamins altogether and they were at one time thought to be just one vitamin. Research has shown that they are indeed all slightly different in structure.

The other seven B vitamins that make up B Complex are B12, folic acid, Niacin, Pyridoxine, Pantothenic acid, Thiamine and Riboflavin. They share similar characteristics; they are all water-soluble, they are all essential in enabling the body to use energy from food and they are all vital for the production of normal tissue.

Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin that is produced in the intestines and it is also obtained from foods.

Where is it found?

Liver, kidney&146;s brewers yeast, egg yolk, meat and dairy produce, nuts, beans, fish, breads and whole grains, soy, bananas and mushrooms.

Why it is needed :

Like the other B vitamins, biotin plays a part in the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats and for making protein, playing a part in the production of nucleic acid.

What happens if you are deficient?

Deficiency is very uncommon. Some people are born with rare diseases which cause them to be deficient in this vitamin. If you consume a vast amount of raw egg whites (body builders eat a lot of egg whites) the proteins in the egg white can hinder the absorption of biotin.

Symptoms of deficiency:

Include dermatitis, depression, hair loss and/or nausea. Some shampoos contain biotin and although this is probably more of a marketing strategy, it is true to say that deficiencies in biotin can cause hair loss, but do not think that all hair loss is attributed to low biotin levels.

Alcoholics and those with bowel disease have also been known to be deficient.

Click here to find out what conditions Biotin has been used to treat.