Biotin is a B vitamin that plays a crucial role in the metabolism of carbs, fats, and proteins. All B vitamins help the body to convert food (carbohydrates) into fuel (glucose), which is used to produce energy.
These B vitamins often referred to as B complex vitamins, also help the body metabolize fats and protein. B complex vitamins are needed for healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver. They also help the nervous system function properly.
What is Biotin?
Biotin is one of eight B vitamins. It is also known as vitamin B-7 or vitamin H, in which case the H stands for “Haar und Haut,” the German words for “hair and skin.” The name biotin derives from the Greek word "bios" (to live) and the suffix "-in" (a general chemical suffix used in organic chemistry).
Biotin is water-soluble. The body does not store water-soluble vitamins, so people need to absorb them from their diets. Biotin is used as cofactor of enzymes involved in carboxylation reactions. In humans, there are five biotin-dependent carboxylases. These enzymes catalyze key reactions in gluconeogenesis, fatty acid metabolism, and amino acid catabolism; thus, biotin plays an essential role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis.
In recent years, biotin has been associated with several diseases in humans. Some are related to enzyme deficiencies involved in biotin metabolism.
Skin and Hair
Biotin supports healthy energy metabolism and also has anti-inflammatory properties. Keratin is the basic protein responsible for good skin, hair and nails, and biotin is known to play a role in building the keratin infrastructure too.
Biotin can increase the rate of follicle growth. It is not stored for long in the body - most of yours is from the foods you eat. Many hair products that claim to encourage healthier, stronger hair contain biotin. Biotin deficiency can lead to hair loss, which indicates that the vitamin is involved in keeping the hair healthy.
Biotin helps improve skin’s hydration, smoothness, and appearance. In addition, some studies show that biotin can strengthen fingernails and make them grow faster. People with biotin deficiencies may experience skin problems, including red, scaly rashes.
The vitamin’s influence on the skin may stem from its effect on fat metabolism. This process is important for maintaining healthy skin, and it may be impaired in people with low levels of biotin. It is important to note that no evidence shows that biotin improves skin health in people who do not have a deficiency of the vitamin.
Nail Health
Brittle nails are fragile and easily become split or cracked. A biotin deficiency can lead to brittle nails. Changing the diet and other lifestyle factors can help improve nail health, as can some commercial products.
Biotin deficiency
Biotin deficiency is fairly rare. However, some people — such as pregnant women and people who drink high amounts of alcohol — may develop mild deficiencies.
Also, eating raw eggs on a regular basis can cause biotin deficiency, because raw egg whites contain a protein called avidin that binds to biotin, preventing the body from absorbing it. Cooking the eggs deactivates their avidin.
The possible biotin deficiency symptoms may include: hair loss, red rashes around the eye, nose, and mouth area, depression, lethargy, numbness, tingling of the extremities, fatigue, insomnia, loss of appetite, dry eyes, brittle hair and fungal infections.
In infants, children, and adults, deficiency of biotin causes alopecia and a characteristic scaly, erythematous dermatitis distributed around body orifices. The rash closely resembles that of zinc deficiency.
Biotinidase deficiency, an inborn error, causes biotin deficiency, probably as a consequence of unpaired intestinal absorption, cellular salvage, and renal reclamation of biotin; biotinidase deficiency causes dermatologic manifestations similar to biotin deficiency. There is evidence that impaired fatty acid metabolism secondary to reduced activities of the biotin-dependent carboxylases plays an etiologic role in the dermatologic manifestations of biotin deficiency.
Biotin Deficiency and Chronic Candidiasis
Candida albicans is the most prevalent cause of fungal infections in people. A primary source of Biotin are the healthy bacteria colonies in the intestinal tract. Because these are often comprimised by a Candida Albicans overgrowth, candida sufferers are particularly prone to a Biotin deficiency. Candida infections secondary to impaired immune function might also contribute to the dermatitis of biotin deficiency.
Some inpiduals lack the enzyme biotinidase, which plays an important role in recycling biotin. Inpiduals with this rare metabolic disorder can display clinical symptoms similar to those of biotin deficiency, such as alopecia and scaly dermatitis. Candida Albicans can often be cultured from the skin lesions in these patients.
Also, some of the women who experience recurrent or persistent episodes of vaginal candidiasis might be carriers of this inborn error of biotinidase enzyme deficiency .
There is also a more severe biotin responsive disease, holocarboxylase deficiency, that also results in biotin deficiency and candida infections. Biotin deficiency, whether nutritional or the one resulting from enzyme deficiency, leads to significant immune dysfunction.
Biotin Deficiency During Pregnancy
Many expectant women suffer from a biotin deficiency because their body breaks down biotin more rapidly during pregnancy. According to studies, 33% – 50% of the expectant women are deficient in biotin, and this occurs mostly during late pregnancy.
In some cases, a deficiency of biotin in pregnant women may also lead to birth defects. In a study conducted on animals, it was proven that the deficiency of biotin might result in birth defects in animals, particularly issues like cleft palate, skeletal deformities, cleft lip, etc. It is possible for these effects to show up in humans as well.
Taking biotin supplements is considered safe during pregnancy, but only if taken in recommended amounts. You should take a doctor’s advice to find out if you need to take biotin supplements or not. Excess of biotin during pregnancy may cause several complications and might also lead to a miscarriage.
Sources
Biotin exists in a wide variety of foods, which helps explain why a deficiency in the vitamin is fairly rare. Foods that are particularly high in biotin include: organ meats, such as liver and kidney, yeast, egg yolks, cheese, legumes, such as soybeans and peanuts, leafy greens, cauliflower, mushrooms ,nuts and nut butters. In addition, gut bacteria produce some biotin. Egg yolk is a good source of biotin.
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