Like all B vitamins, it is a water soluble, meaning the body does not store it. However, bacteria in the intestine can make biotin. It is also available in small amounts a number of foods.
Marginal biotin deficiency may occur due to increased catabolism of biotin in smokers. Treatment with anticonvulsants such as phenytoin and carbamazepine may cause biotin depletion in serum. Alcoholics often show deficiencies of various vitamins and minerals, including biotin.
Nevertheless, our gut also harbours bacteria that produce B vitamins, including biotin, cobalamin, folate, niacin, pantothenate, pyridoxine, riboflavin, and thiamin, but in limited amounts [22].
Dietary avidin, a glycoprotein in raw egg whites, binds tightly to dietary biotin and prevents biotin's absorption in the gastrointestinal tract [13,14].
' The resulting symptoms of biotin defi- ciency include infantile seizures, ataxia, hypotonia, hearing loss, and developmental delay, as well as rash, alopecia, metabolic acidosis, and organic aciduria:' Sei- zures may be the only symptom.
To maximize the intake of biotin and for safety reasons, always cook eggs before eating them. Raw egg white contains a protein called dietary avidin, which binds to biotin and makes it harder for the body to absorb it. Cooking separates the biotin from the avidin, helping the digestive tract to absorb the vitamin.
Impure solutions of biotin from several sources and pure biotin, given to rat's in conjunction with t'hiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, and pantothenic acid, caused fatty livers similar to those produced by feeding a fraction from beef liver. The fatty livers were char- acterized by a high content of cholesterol.
However, cooking eggs denatures avidin and makes biotin available for absorption. Most biotin in food is protein bound and must be released prior to intestinal absorption. Biotin is water soluble and as a result free biotin is absorbed almost 100%.
Beef liver is the best food source of natural and active vitamin A, it's also a good source of vitamins D, E & K. For people with a hair loss condition called Alopecia Areata, vitamin A can be beneficial because it nourishes the hair root and may help decrease inflammation in this condition.
Biotin deprivation affects pancreatic islet functions. Studies at our laboratory found that biotin deficiency reduced the expression and activity of pancreatic glucokinase [23], a critical enzyme in glucose-induced insulin secretion [24].
Liver Health
Your liver needs biotin to help assist with proper metabolic function, but taking more biotin won't increase your metabolism. In fact, some studies have found a link between the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and an increased circulating level of biotin.
There are reports that excessive biotin supplementation can lead to insomnia. Since biotin supplements are needed to metabolize fats and carbohydrates and turn these into energy, excessive intake of biotin during nighttime might lead to a surge of energy. This surge of energy may make it difficult for you to sleep.
Biotin is one of the components necessary for rebuilding muscle strength and helping tissues grow. This vitamin also has a key role in alleviating muscle and joint inflammation, aches, and pains.
Studies on biotin's role in the immune response have emergently revealed that biotin is related to inflammation [10,14,15] and that its deficiency leads to an increase in the level of proinflammatory cytokines [13,16].
Exercise and healthy dietary supplements, including micronutrients, are promising methods to manage NAFLD. Vitamins A, B3, B12, D, and E can serve as targets for NAFLD therapy, although some are linked to adverse effects.
One of the main arguments for biotin causing weight gain is that it is believed to increase the production of insulin in the body. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels, and it is also involved in the storage of fat.
Avoid certain supplements: Excess iron, niacin, and vitamin A (the retinol form, not beta carotene) tend to stress an unhealthy liver. Check your multi and B-complex for these ingredients.
Biotin deficiency: glossitis and Cheilitis
These fatty acids are needed to form healthy cells in the tongue and mouth. To correct the nutrient deficiency, individuals can have biotin supplementation. Improvements in the tongue and mouth can be seen in five days.
Protein, fibre, and unsaturated fat can all be found in nuts. Several nuts, including almonds, pecans, hazelnuts, and cashews, contain biotin that the body needs every day and are easy to carry as snacks.
Who is at risk for biotin deficiency? People with health conditions that impact how the body absorbs nutrients, or who are on certain medications, can be at risk of developing biotin deficiency. Biotinidase deficiency (BTD) is the most common cause of biotin deficiency.
Most commonly, biotin use can result in falsely high levels of T4 and T3 and falsely low levels of TSH, leading to either a wrong diagnosis of hyperthyroidism or that the thyroid hormone dose is too high.
Biotin (Vitamin B7) The brain is particularly sensitive to the delivery and metabolism of glucose. Biotin plays a key role in glucose metabolism and haemostasis, including regulation of hepatic glucose uptake, gluconeogenesis (and lipogenesis), insulin receptor transcription and pancreatic β-cell function [18].