Biotin

WHAT IS BIOTIN?

You may know vitamin B7 under its more familiar name, Biotin, which has long been used to support optimal hair and skin health. But did you know that Biotin is also known as “vitamin H”, from the German words "Haar" and "Haut," meaning hair and skin? Of course, biotin offers a lot more to health. So what is biotin exactly? Biotin is a water-soluble member of the B family of vitamins and is integral to healthy metabolic function, effective digestion and sound cardiovascular health. Biotin is present in many foods including organ meats, salt-water fish, eggs, avocado, berries, fish, and soybeans.

Inside the body, biotin acts as a coenzyme that's required for the metabolism of B vitamins, fatty acids, amino acids, and glucose. As such, we need a consistent and adequate dietary intake of biotin to be able to convert the fats, proteins, and carbohydrates we consume, into fuel for energy production. Conversely, a low biotin status can result in a sluggish metabolism, low energy, fatigue, weight gain, digestive problems, and a variety of mood disorders. More recent findings have shown that biotin deficiency can also result in severe neurodegeneration.

BENEFITS of BIOTIN

• Helps Normalize Glycemia
• Improves Hair, Skin & Nail Health
• Maintains Cardiovascular Health
• Protects the Brain & Helps Prevent Cognitive Decline
• Supports Immune Function
  
  

WHO NEEDS BIOTIN?

Practitioners will often recommend a biotin supplement for hair, skin, and nail concerns because even slight deficiencies can cause hair to fall out, nails to thin, and skin to weaken. Male pattern baldness and cradle cap can also be the result of biotin deficiency, and both conditions can greatly benefit from supplementation. Biotin is also frequently recommended to help support healthy metabolism and balance blood sugar, as well as to help prevent age-related cognitive impairment such as seen in Alzheimer's disease.

BIOTIN POTENCY & FORMATS

Biotin Potency

Biotin supplements are offered in a particularly vast array of potencies, anywhere from 300 mcg to 10,000 mcg. Your required daily dose will depend on the intended application, and the symptoms or condition you are trying to address. Clinical doses above 25-300 mcg daily should be determined in consultation with your health care provider.

Biotin Formats

Biotin supplements are readily available in-stores and online in a range of formats including capsules (gelatin or veggie), tablets, and chewable gummies, as well as in drops, and sublingual sprays.

Biotin can also be found in most B complex formulas or so-called “Stress” formulas, and it is also found in a variety of hair care and skincare products. It's worth noting that there is some debate as to how well topical biotin is absorbed. Most research seems to suggest that oral biotin supplementation is by far the most effective.

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR BIOTIN SUPPLEMENT

Biotin pairs especially well with the other B vitamins, as well as with vitamin A, collagen, keratin, and silica, among others.

B vitamins work synergistically inside the body and are best taken as a complex rather than in isolated form to prevent depleting the other B’s.

B vitamins are also water-soluble, meaning they cannot be stored in the body's fatty tissues and saved for later use, so it's best to take your daily biotin in divided doses throughout the day for more consistent delivery.

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