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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. Ross SA, Ziska DS, Zhoa K, et al. Variance of common flavonoids by brand of grapefruit juice. Fitoterapia. 2000;71:154–161. 2. Godeberge P. Daflon 500 mg in the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease: a demonstrated efficacy in comparison with placebo. Angiology. 1994;45:574–578. 3. Cospite M. Double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of clinical activity and safety of Daflon 500 mg in the treatment of acute hemorrhoids. Angiology. 1994;45:566–573. 4. Thanapongsathorn W, Vajrabukka T. Clinical trial of oral diosmin (DaflonW) in the treatment of hemorrhoids. Dis Colon Rectum. 1992;35:1085–1088. 5. Misra MC, Parshad R. Randomized clinical trial of micronized flavonoids in the early control of bleeding from acute internal haemorrhoids. Br J Surg. 2000;87:868–872. 6. Ho YH, Tan M, Seow-Choen F. Micronized purified flavonidic fraction compared favorably with rubber band ligation and fiber alone in the management of bleeding hemorrhoids: randomized controlled trial. Dis Colon Rectum. 2000;43:66–69. 7. Tsouderos Y. Venous tone: are the phlebotonic properties predictive of a therapeutic benefit? A comprehensive view of our experience with Daflon 500 mg. Z Kardiol. 1991;80(suppl 7):95–101. 8. Ihme N, Kiesewetter H, Jung F, et al. Leg oedema protection from a buckwheat herb tea in patients with chronic venous insufficiency: a single-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1996;50:443–447. 9. Guilhou JJ, Dereure O, Marzin L, et al. Efficacy of Daflon 500 mg in venous leg ulcer healing: a double-blind, randomized, controlled versus placebo trial in 107 patients. Angiology. 1997;48:77–85. 10. Guilhou JJ, Fevrier F, Debure C, et al. Benefit of a 2-month treatment with a micronized, purified flavonoidic fraction on venous ulcer healing. A randomized, double-blind, controlled versus placebo trial. Int J Microcirc Clin Exp. 1997;17(Suppl 1):21–26. 11. Guilhou JJ, Dereure O, Marzin L, et al. Efficacy of Daflon 500 mg in venous leg ulcer healing: a double-blind, randomized, controlled versus placebo trial in 107 patients. Angiology. 1997;48:77–85. 12. Guilhou JJ, Fevrier F, Debure C, et al. Benefit of a 2-month treatment with a micronized, purified flavonoidic fraction on venous ulcer healing. A randomized, double-blind, controlled versus placebo trial. Int J Microcirc Clin Exp. 1997;17(Suppl 1):21–26. 13. Galley P, Thiollet M. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a new veno-active flavonoid fraction (S 5682) in the treatment of symptomatic capillary fragility. Int Angiol. 1993;12:69–72. 14. Pecking AP, Fevrier B, Wargon C, et al. Efficacy of Daflon 500 mg in the treatment of lymphedema (secondary to conventional therapy of breast cancer). Angiology. 1997;48:93–98. 15. Lee SH, Park YB, Bae KH, et al. Cholesterol-lowering activity of naringenin via inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase and acyl coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase in rats. Ann Nutr Metab. 1999;43:173–180. 16. Shin YW, Bok SH, Jeong TS, et al. Hypocholesterolemic effect of naringin associated with hepatic cholesterol regulating enzyme changes in rats. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 1999;69:341–347. 17. Emim JA, Oliveira AB, Lapa AJ. Pharmacological evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity of a citrus bioflavonoid, hesperidin, and the isoflavonoids, duartin and claussequinone, in rats and mice. J Pharm Pharmacol. 1994;46:118–122. 18. Manuel y Keenoy B, Vertommen J, De Leeuw I. The effect of flavonoid treatment on the glycation and antioxidant status in Type 1 diabetic patients. Diabetes Nutr Metab. 1999;12:256–263. 19. Middleton E Jr, Drzewiecki G, Tatum J. The effects of citrus flavonoids on human basophil and neutrophil function. Planta Med. 1987;53:325–328. 20. So FV, Guthrie N, Chambers AF, et al. Inhibition of human breast cancer cell proliferation and delay of mammary tumorigenesis by flavonoids and citrus juices. Nutr Cancer. 1996;26:167–181. 21. Godeberge P. Daflon 500 mg in the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease: a demonstrated efficacy in comparison with placebo. Angiology. 1994;45:574–578. 22. Cospite M. Double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of clinical activity and safety of Daflon 500 mg in the treatment of acute hemorrhoids. Angiology. 1994;45:566–573. 23. Misra MC, Parshad R. Randomized clinical trial of micronized flavonoids in the early control of bleeding from acute internal haemorrhoids. Br J Surg. 2000;87:868–872. 24. Ho YH, Tan M, Seow-Choen F. Micronized purified flavonidic fraction compared favorably with rubber band ligation and fiber alone in the management of bleeding hemorrhoids: randomized controlled trial. Dis Colon Rectum. 2000;43:66–69. 25. Thanapongsathorn W, Vajrabukka T. Clinical trial of oral diosmin (DaflonW) in the treatment of hemorrhoids. Dis Colon Rectum. 1992;35:1085–1088. 26. Guilhou JJ, Dereure O, Marzin L, et al. Efficacy of Daflon 500 mg in venous leg ulcer healing: a double-blind, randomized, controlled versus placebo trial in 107 patients. Angiology. 1997;48:77–85. 27. Ihme N, Kiesewetter H, Jung F, et al. Leg oedema protection from a buckwheat herb tea in patients with chronic venous insufficiency: a single-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1996;50:443–447. 28. Galley P, Thiollet M. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a new veno-active flavonoid fraction (S 5682) in the treatment of symptomatic capillary fragility. Int Angiol. 1993;12:69–72. 29. Miller MJ. Injuries to athletes. Evaluation of ascorbic acid and water soluble citrus bioflavonoids in the prophylaxis of injuries in athletes. Med Times. 1960;88:313–316. 30. Meyer OC. Safety and security of Daflon 500 mg in venous insufficiency and in hemorrhoidal disease. Angiology. 1994;45:579–584. 31. Buckshee K, Takkar D, Aggarwal N. Micronized flavonoid therapy in internal hemorrhoids of pregnancy. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 1997;57:145–151. 32. Bracke ME, Depypere HT, Boterberg T, et al. Influence of tangeretin on tamoxifen's therapeutic benefit in mammary cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1999;91:354–359. 33. Strick R, Strissel PL, Borgers S, et al. Dietary bioflavonoids induce cleavage in the MLL gene and may contribute to infant leukemia. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2000;97:4790–4795. 34. Laurent R, Gilly R, Frileux C. Clinical evaluation of a venotropic drug in man. Example of Daflon 500 mg. Int Angiol. 1988;7:39-43. 35. Danielsson G, Jungbeck C, Peterson K, et al. A randomised controlled trial of micronised purified flavonoid fraction vs placebo in patients with chronic venous disease. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2002;23:73–76. |
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