Biotin is a vitamin found in foods like eggs, milk, and bananas. It is an essential nutrient that helps the body break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins into energy. Biotin deficiency can cause thinning of the hair and a rash on the face. Biotin supplements are available in dietary supplements containing biotin only, in supplements containing combinations of B-complex vitamins, and in some multivitamin/mineral products. The absorption rate of oral, free biotin is 100%, even when people consume pharmacologic doses of up to 20 mg/day biotin.
Positive:
- Biotin is an essential nutrient that helps the body break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins into energy.
- Biotin is likely safe for most people when taken by mouth.
- Biotin is likely safe for most people when applied in cosmetic products that contain up to 0.6% biotin.
Negative:
- There is no good scientific evidence to support the use of biotin supplements for hair loss, brittle nails, and other conditions.
- Biotin supplements might interfere with some lab tests.
- Biotin supplements may produce "false-positive" or "false-negative" lab test results, which may lead to misdiagnoses or unnecessary treatments.
Ingredients or materials:
- Biotin supplements contain biotin and other ingredients such as rice flour, cellulose (capsule), silica, and stearic acid (vegetable source).
- Several food sources of biotin include eggs, milk, bananas, salmon, almonds, and sweet potatoes.
