Biotin (Vitamin B7)

Last Updated: September 12, 2023

Biotin is one of the essential B vitamins used by the body primarily as an enzymatic cofactor. While it is popular as a beauty supplement for hair, skin, and nails and very preliminary evidence suggests it may have a role in these uses, its role is not well-supported. Potential interactions with diabetes are also not well understood.

Biotin (Vitamin B7) is most often used for

What is biotin?

Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is an essential B-complex vitamin that was discovered in yeast and is primarily associated with the health of nails, skin, and hair. It is commonly referred to simply as biotin rather than by its technical designation.

What are biotin’s main benefits?

Biotin is often marketed for enhancing the aesthetics of nails, skin, and hair, largely based on a pilot study that showed benefits for brittle nails, but there is limited scientific evidence to support these claims. Although biotin may have potential benefits, particularly in cases of deficiency, more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness as a beauty supplement.

What are biotin’s main drawbacks?

Biotin intake above recommended levels is not toxic, but it can mimic symptoms of diabetes and lead to inaccurate medical lab test results, which could cause misdiagnoses. It is crucial for people who are taking biotin supplements to inform their healthcare providers due to its effects on various serum tests.

How does biotin work?

Biotin acts as an enzymatic cofactor and may influence glucose metabolism, as suggested by rodent studies that showed that higher biotin levels were associated with increased insulin release and lower glucose elevation. However, human research is limited; one study indicated that intramuscular biotin may alleviate neuropathy symptoms in people with diabetes.

What are other names for Biotin (Vitamin B7)?
Note that Biotin (Vitamin B7) is also known as:
  • Vitamin B7
  • Vitamin H
Dosage information

The only known supplemental dose of biotin that has been tested orally in humans — for the purposes of enhancing the quality of brittle nails — is 2.5mg taken once daily over six months.

This dose appears relatively safe, although it is much higher than the recommended daily intake (RDI) of biotin which ranges from 25-30mcg (youth) upwards to 100mcg (adults). The biotin dose found in many multivitamins (30mcg or 0.03mg) seems more than sufficient.

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Update History
2023-09-12 17:02:58

More safety information added

minor

We added some more information on the potential effect of biotin on biomarkers such as thyroid hormone.

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References
  1. ^Institute of Medicine Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes: Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline.National Academy Press.(1998)
  2. ^Bistas KG, Tadi P.Biotin StatPearls.(2023)
  3. ^Barbesino GMisdiagnosis of Graves' Disease with Apparent Severe Hyperthyroidism in a Patient Taking Biotin Megadoses.Thyroid.(2016-Jun)
  4. ^Piketty ML, Polak M, Flechtner I, Gonzales-Briceño L, Souberbielle JCFalse biochemical diagnosis of hyperthyroidism in streptavidin-biotin-based immunoassays: the problem of biotin intake and related interferences.Clin Chem Lab Med.(2017-May-01)
  5. ^Li D, Radulescu A, Shrestha RT, Root M, Karger AB, Killeen AA, Hodges JS, Fan SL, Ferguson A, Garg U, Sokoll LJ, Burmeister LAAssociation of Biotin Ingestion With Performance of Hormone and Nonhormone Assays in Healthy Adults.JAMA.(2017-Sep-26)
  6. ^Ali M, Rajapakshe D, Cao L, Devaraj SDiscordant Analytical Results Caused by Biotin Interference on Diagnostic Immunoassays in a Pediatric Hospital.Ann Clin Lab Sci.(2017-Sep)
  7. ^Goodrum JM, Nair VS, Moore C, Crouch AK, Eichner D, Miller GDImpact of Biotin Supplementation on Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Immunoassays Utilizing Biotin-Streptavidin Binding Methods in Urine.Clin Chem.(2023-Jul-05)
  8. ^James A, Stalan J, Kuzhively JBiotin induced biochemical hyperthyroidism: a case report and review of the literature.J Med Case Rep.(2023-Jun-28)
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  14. ^Brasky TM, White E, Chen CLLong-Term, Supplemental, One-Carbon Metabolism-Related Vitamin B Use in Relation to Lung Cancer Risk in the Vitamins and Lifestyle (VITAL) CohortJ Clin Oncol.(2017 Oct 20)
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  20. ^Said HM, Redha R, Nylander WBiotin transport in the human intestine: inhibition by anticonvulsant drugs.Am J Clin Nutr.(1989 Jan)
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  25. ^D M Mock, D D Stadler, S L Stratton, N I MockBiotin status assessed longitudinally in pregnant womenJ Nutr.(1997 May)
  26. ^Mock DM, Quirk JG, Mock NIMarginal biotin deficiency during normal pregnancy.Am J Clin Nutr.(2002 Feb)
  27. ^Institute of Medicine (US) Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes and its Panel on Folate, Other B Vitamins, and CholineDietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B 6, Folate, Vitamin B 12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline
  28. ^Berger MM, Shenkin A, Schweinlin A, Amrein K, Augsburger M, Biesalski HK, Bischoff SC, Casaer MP, Gundogan K, Lepp HL, de Man AME, Muscogiuri G, Pietka M, Pironi L, Rezzi S, Cuerda CESPEN micronutrient guideline.Clin Nutr.(2022-Jun)
  29. ^Adrian I Espiritu, Patricia Pauline M Remalante-RaycoHigh-dose biotin for multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trialsMult Scler Relat Disord.(2021 Jul 21)
  30. ^P M Debourdeau, S Djezzar, J L Estival, C M Zammit, R C Richard, A C CastotLife-threatening eosinophilic pleuropericardial effusion related to vitamins B5 and HAnn Pharmacother.(2001 Apr)
  31. ^Elisabeth Maillart, Fanny Mochel, Cécile Acquaviva, Thierry Maisonobe, Bruno StankoffSevere transient myopathy in a patient with progressive multiple sclerosis and high-dose biotinNeurology.(2019 May 28)
  32. ^Danni Li, Angela Ferguson, Mark A Cervinski, Kara L Lynch, Patrick B KyleAACC Guidance Document on Biotin Interference in Laboratory TestsJ Appl Lab Med.(2020 May 1)
  33. ^Biotin: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals; USA: National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements; last updated January 10, 2022; cited October 2024(2022 Jan)
  34. ^Biscolla RPM, Chiamolera MI, Kanashiro I, Maciel RMB, Vieira JGHA Single 10 mg Oral Dose of Biotin Interferes with Thyroid Function Tests.Thyroid.(2017 Aug)
  35. ^John H T Luong, Sandeep K VashistChemistry of Biotin-Streptavidin and the Growing Concern of an Emerging Biotin Interference in Clinical ImmunoassaysACS Omega.(2019 Dec 18)
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Examine Database References
  1. Blood glucose - Revilla-Monsalve C, Zendejas-Ruiz I, Islas-Andrade S, Báez-Saldaña A, Palomino-Garibay MA, Hernández-Quiróz PM, Fernandez-Mejia CBiotin supplementation reduces plasma triacylglycerol and VLDL in type 2 diabetic patients and in nondiabetic subjects with hypertriglyceridemiaBiomed Pharmacother.(2006 May)
  2. Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms - Bruce A C Cree, Gary Cutter, Jerry S Wolinsky, Mark S Freedman, Giancarlo Comi, Gavin Giovannoni, Hans-Peter Hartung, Douglas Arnold, Jens Kuhle, Valerie Block, Frederick E Munschauer, Frédéric Sedel, Fred D Lublin, SPI2 investigative teamsSafety and efficacy of MD1003 (high-dose biotin) in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (SPI2): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trialLancet Neurol.(2020 Dec)
  3. Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms - Tourbah A, Lebrun-Frenay C, Edan G, Clanet M, Papeix C, Vukusic S, De Sèze J, Debouverie M, Gout O, Clavelou P, Defer G, Laplaud DA, Moreau T, Labauge P, Brochet B, Sedel F, Pelletier J, MD1003 (high-dose biotin) for the treatment of progressive multiple sclerosis: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.Mult Scler.(2016-11)
  4. Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms - Sedel F, Papeix C, Bellanger A, Touitou V, Lebrun-Frenay C, Galanaud D, Gout O, Lyon-Caen O, Tourbah AHigh doses of biotin in chronic progressive multiple sclerosis: a pilot study.Mult Scler Relat Disord.(2015-Mar)
  5. Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms - Tourbah A, Gout O, Vighetto A, Deburghgraeve V, Pelletier J, Papeix C, Lebrun-Frenay C, Labauge P, Brassat D, Toosy A, Laplaud DA, Outteryck O, Moreau T, Debouverie M, Clavelou P, Heinzlef O, De Sèze J, Defer G, Sedel F, Arndt CMD1003 (High-Dose Pharmaceutical-Grade Biotin) for the Treatment of Chronic Visual Loss Related to Optic Neuritis in Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.CNS Drugs.(2018-07)
  6. Triglycerides - Marshall MW, Kliman PG, Washington VA, Mackin JF, Weinland BTEffects of biotin on lipids and other constituents of plasma of healthy men and womenArtery.(1980)
  7. Nail Quality - Colombo VE, Gerber F, Bronhofer M, Floersheim GLTreatment of brittle fingernails and onychoschizia with biotin: scanning electron microscopyJ Am Acad Dermatol.(1990 Dec)