Biotin

Biotin is a water-soluble B complex vitamin, sometimes referred to as Vitamin H or B7.

Food sources of Biotin:

Brewer's yeast, meat, milk, poultry, soy beans, bean sprouts, egg yolk (cooked), whole grains, sardines, lentils, and mushrooms. Biotin is also synthesized by intestinal bacteria.

Functions of Biotin:

It is involved in the metabolism of fat, protein and sugars, and aids in the utilization of folic acid, pantothenic acid, and vitamin B12. It maintains skin, hair, sebaceous glands, bone marrow and sex glands It aids cellular growth, liver function, and reduces cholesterol plaques in blood vessels. Biotin is an essential coenzyme in many enzyme reactions. The thyroid, adrenal glands, reproductive system, nervous system and skin rely on an adequate supply of biotin.

Deficiency symptoms of Biotin:

Deficiencies affect skin and hair, these include: Baldness, dermatitis, grayish skin coloring, seborrheic dermatitis, or cradle cap. Other signs of biotin deficiency include: loss of appetite, muscular pain, nausea, soreness of tongue, inflammation of skin, insomnia, ketosis, increased sensitivity of the skin, sitophobia ( dread of food), burning or prickling sensations, abnormalities of heart function, increased serum cholesterol levels, lassitude and depression.

Factors increasing the demand for Biotin:

Eating raw egg whites prevents the absorption of biotin, the protein Avidin combines with the biotin in the diet and depletes the body of the nutrient. Alcohol and coffee consumption, pregnancy, lactation, ageing, and athletes.

Loss of Biotin:

Significant losses of biotin occur in food processing and storage, and is unstable in acid and alkaline solutions.

Therapeutic use of Biotin:

Depression has shown improvement with the addition of biotin to the diet, epilepsy, leg cramps, dermatitis, alopecia, eczema diabetes, people with type 2 diabetes have been found to have low level of biotin.

Drugs affecting Biotin:

Antibiotics deplete the much needed intestinal bacteria involved in the synthesis of biotin, sulfa and  epilepsy drugs also deplete biotin.

Dosage and toxicity of Biotin:

The RDA for Biotin is 150 to 300 micrograms, additional amounts may be required during pregnancy and lactation. There is no toxicity associated with Biotin.

Read more:Folic Acid

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