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Biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin that plays an important role in metabolizing the energy we get from food. Biotin assists four essential enzymes that break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.
Very preliminary evidence suggests that biotin supplements may be helpful for people with diabetes.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Requirements/Sources Although biotin is a necessary nutrient, we usually get enough from bacteria living in the digestive tract. Severe biotin deficiency has been seen in people who frequently eat large quantities of raw egg white. (Raw egg white contains a protein that blocks the absorption of biotin. Fortunately, cooked egg white does not present this problem.) The official U.S. and Canadian recommendations for daily intake of biotin are as follows: Infants 0–5 months, 5 mcg 6–11 months, 6 mcg Children 1–3 years, 8 mcg 4–8 years, 12 mcg 9–13 years, 20 mcg Males and females 14–18 years, 25 mcg 19 years and older, 30 mcg Pregnant women, 30 mcg Nursing women, 35 mcg Good dietary sources of biotin include brewer's yeast, nutritional (torula) yeast, whole grains, nuts, egg yolks, sardines, legumes, liver, cauliflower, bananas, and mushrooms. There is some evidence that slight biotin deficiency may tend to occur during normal pregnancy.9 For this reason, pregnant women should take a prenatal vitamin that contains the recommended intake of biotin. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Therapeutic Dosages For people with diabetes, the usual recommended dosage of biotin is 7,000 to 15,000 mcg daily. For treating "cradle cap" (a scaly head rash often found in infants), the usual dosage of biotin is 6,000 mcg daily, given to the nursing mother (not the child). A lower dosage of 3,000 mcg daily is used to treat brittle fingernails and toenails. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Therapeutic Uses There is little hard evidence for any of the proposed uses of biotin. Highly preliminary evidence suggests that supplemental biotin can help reduce blood sugar levels in people with either type 1 (childhood onset) or type 2 (adult onset) diabetes.1,2 Biotin may also reduce the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.3 However, other supplements often recommended for diabetes have much better evidence behind them, such as chromium, lipoic acid, and GLA from evening primrose oil. Even weaker evidence suggests that biotin supplements can promote healthy nails4,5,6 and eliminate cradle cap. Individuals taking antiseizure medications might benefit from biotin supplementation at nutritional doses.7,8 However, it should be taken at least 2 hours before or after the medication dose. Note that excessive biotin supplementation should be avoided because it is possible that it might interfere with seizure control. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Safety Issues Biotin appears to be quite safe. However, maximum safe dosages for young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease have not been established. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interactions You Should Know About If you are taking Antiseizure medications: You may need extra biotin, but do not take more than the dosage recommendations listed in the Requirements/Sources section. In addition, take it 2 to 3 hours apart from your antiseizure medication. Alcohol: You may need extra biotin. References 1. Maebashi M, Makino Y, Furukawa Y, et al. Therapeutic evaluation of the effect of biotin on hyperglycemia in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 1993;14:211–218. 2. Coggeshall JC, Heggers JP, Robson MC, et al. Biotin status and plasma glucose in diabetics. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1985;447:389–392. 3. Koutsikos D, Agroyannis B, Tzanatos-Exarchou H. Biotin for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Biomed Pharmacother. 1990;44:511–514. 4. Floersheim GL. Treatment of brittle finger nails with biotin [in German; English abstract]. Z Hautkr. 1989;64:41–48. 5. Colombo VE, Gerber F, Bronhofer M, et al. Treatment of brittle fingernails and onychoschizia with biotin: scanning electron microscopy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1990;23:1127–1132. 6. Hochman LG, Scher RK, Meyerson MS. Brittle nails: response to daily biotin supplementation. Cutis. 1993;51:303–305. 7. Krause K-H, Bonjour JP, Berlit P, et al. Biotin status of epileptics. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1985;447:297–313. 8. Said HM, Redha R, Nylander W. Biotin transport in the human intestine: inhibition by anticonvulsant drugs. Am J Clin Nutr. 1989;49:127–131. 9. Mock DM, Quirk JG, Mock NI. Marginal biotin deficiency during normal pregnancy. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002;75:295–299. |
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