Vitamin H, more commonly known as biotin, is a water-soluble vitamin produced in the body by certain types of intestinal bacteria and obtained from food. Considered part of the B complex group of vitamins, biotin is necessary for the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and amino acids (the building blocks of protein).

Deficiency, uncommon in humans, may result in hair loss, dry scaly skin, cracking in the corners of the mouth (called cheilitis), swollen and painful tongue that is magenta in color (glossitis), dry eyes, loss of appetite, fatigue, insomnia, and depression. Animals deficient in biotin during pregnancy are more likely to deliver newborns with birth defects such as a cleft palate. Research in this area for pregnant women is underway. One situation in which biotin deficiency does often develop is in people who have been on parenteral nutrition (nutrition administered intravenously rather than through the mouth or stomach) for a long period of time. It may also been seen in people who have been on long-term therapy with anticonvulsants, antibiotics, and sulfa drugs.

Interestingly, vegetarians are able to absorb more biotin from the gastrointestinal tract than meat eaters. Biotin is often recommended for strengthening hair and nails and is found in many cosmetic products for hair and skin.

Below is a partial list of the health problems biotin may help treat:

Hair and Nail Problems
Biotin supplements may improve thin, splitting, or brittle toe and fingernails as well as hair health. Biotin has also been used to combat alopecia (partial or complete loss of hair) in both children and adults.

Cradle Cap (Seborrheic Dermatitis)
Infants deficient in biotin often develop this scaly scalp condition. Some infants may respond to biotin supplementation either through formulas or breast milk. While studies have not confirmed the value of biotin for treating cradle cap, there are individual reports of some infants doing better with this treatment.

Similarly, children with a rare inherited metabolic disorder called phenyulketonuria (PKU; in which one is unable to break down the amino acid phenylalanine) often develop skin conditions such as eczema and seborrheic dermatitis in areas of the body other than the scalp. The scaly skin changes that occur in people with PKU may be related to poor ability to use biotin. Increasing dietary biotin in the diet seems to improve seborrheic dermatitis.

Biotinidase Deficiency
Biotin supplementation is usually given to babies and children with this unusual inherited condition. Biotinidase deficiency is often associated with seizures, skin disorders, bald spots, hearing loss, visual disturbances, and developmental delay. The inherited form of biotinidase deficiency is seen most commonly in people from Saudi Arabia.

Use of valproic acid, a medication for seizure disorders, can cause a biotinidase deficiency leading to skin rashes and hair loss. Biotin supplements may prevent or treat some of the side effects from this prescription drug.

Another rare inherited metabolic disorder (which looks very much like biotinidase deficiency) is called holocaroxylase synthetase deficiency. This type of deficiency also alters biotin metabolism and infants with this condition tend to improve from biotin supplements.

Diabetes
People with type 2 diabetes often have low levels of biotin. Biotin may be involved in the synthesis and release of insulin. Preliminary studies in both animals and people suggest that biotin may help improve blood sugar control in those with diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes. More research in this area would be helpful.

Peripheral Neuropathy
There have been reports of biotin supplements improving the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy for some people who developed this condition from either long-standing diabetes or on-going hemodialysis for kidney failure. Peripheral neuropathy refers to damage to the nerves of the extremities, most commonly the feet and calves. It is felt as numbness, tingling, burning or strange sensations, and may be accompanied by pain, muscle weakness, and difficulty walking. People who have taken biotin for these purposes tend to notice improvement as early as 1 to 3 months after starting the supplement.

Candida Infections
Candida infections affect the skin, mouth, and vagina and are caused by a yeast-like fungus. Possible symptoms include white patches in the mouth or on the throat, painful cracks at the corners of the mouth, skin rashes found commonly in the groin, between fingers and toes, and under the breasts, and vaginal itching and irritation with a curd-like discharge. Some believe that people with a biotin deficiency may be more likely to become infected with candida. It is not clear, however, whether increasing biotin in the diet or taking biotin supplements will prevent or treat this condition. There has been one case report of a woman with frequent, recurrent vaginal candida infections who did improve after taking biotin supplements for three months.

High Cholesterol
Animal studies and a few human studies suggest that low levels of biotin are associated with high total and LDL ("bad") cholesterol. It is not known, however, if biotin supplementation or increased biotin in the diet improves cholesterol.

These foods contain a significant amount of biotin:

• Brewer's yeast
• Organ meets (liver, kidney)
• Cooked eggs, especially egg yolk
• Nuts (almonds, peanuts, pecans, walnuts) and nut butters
• Soybeans
• Other legumes (beans, blackeye peas, peanuts)
• Oatbran

Note that raw egg whites contain a protein called Avidin that interferes with the absorption of biotin. It is always recommended that people avoid eating raw eggs because of food poisoning caused by Salmonella. Food-processing techniques can destroy biotin. Less-processed versions of the foods listed above will contain more biotin.

Biotin is available within multivitamins and B-vitamin complexes, and as individual supplements.

Standard preparations are available in 10 mcg, 50 mcg, and 100 mcg tablets and contain either simple biotin or a complex with brewer's yeast.

As with all supplements, check with a healthcare provider before giving biotin to a child.

Adequate daily intakes for biotin from the diet are listed below.

Pediatric

• Infants birth to 6 months: 5 mcg
• Infants 7 to 12 months: 6 mcg
• Children 1 to 3 years: 8 mcg
• Children 4 to 8 years: 12 mcg
• Children 9 to 13 years: 20 mcg
• Adolescents 14 to 18 years: 25 mcg

Adult

• 19 years and older: 30 mcg
• Pregnant females: 30 mcg
• Breastfeeding females: 35 mcg

For biotin deficiencies or to treat one of the conditions described in the Uses section, a healthcare provider may recommend as much as 100 to 1,000 mcg of this supplement. Safety has only been established for dosages between 30 and 600 mcg.

Because of the potential for side effects and interactions with medications, dietary supplements should be taken only under the supervision of a knowledgeable healthcare provider. That said, biotin has not been associated with side effects (even in high doses) and is considered to be nontoxic.

Although there are no reports in the medical literature of interactions between biotin and conventional medications, there are some medications that may deplete biotin levels. If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use vitamin A without first talking to your healthcare provider.

Antibiotics
Long- term antibiotic use may decrease biotin levels by destroying the bacteria in the gut that produces biotin.

Anticonvulsant Medications
Long-term use of anticonvulsant medications such as phenytoin, primidone, carbamezepine, and phenobarbital can deplete the body's stores of biotin, possibly by interfering with absorption and increasing urinary excretion. Similarly, valproic acid can cause biotinidase deficiency which may be helped by biotin supplements.

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