Güzelliğin vitamini olarak bilinen biyotin, sadece saçları değil, hücrelerimizi ve sinir sistemimizi de besliyor.

Author: Pharm. Fatima Khaled Mohammed Abobakr

Marmara University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology

"Known as the vitamin of beauty, biotin nourishes not only our hair but also our cells and nervous system."

Title:

What is biotin?

Vitamin B7, also known as biotin, is a water-soluble B vitamin that plays a role in the conversion of fats and carbohydrates into energy and in metabolic processes. Biotin is essential for the formation of fatty acids and glucose, which are used as fuel by the body.

What is the role of biotin in the body?

Biotin supplements have been suggested to improve the health of skin, hair, and nails; however, strong evidence supporting these effects is lacking. It is important to be aware that taking biotin supplements may interfere with certain laboratory tests, potentially leading to false-positive or false-negative results. High doses of biotin are beneficial in certain neurological conditions (e.g., multiple sclerosis); however, the mechanism of action is unclear.

What are the benefits of biotin?

Hair, skin, and nail health: Biotin helps maintain healthy hair, skin, and nails. A deficiency may result in hair loss, brittle nails, and skin problems.
Metabolism: Biotin plays an important role in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. It contributes to the body's energy production.
Diabetes: Biotin may help regulate blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
Pregnancy: Biotin is important for pregnant women, as it is among the vitamins and minerals required for a healthy pregnancy.

What happens with biotin deficiency?

Biotin deficiency occurs when the body does not have enough biotin to perform its essential functions. While a small amount of biotin is produced by gut bacteria, dietary intake is the main source. Deficiency can arise from poor nutrition, digestive disorders, or long-term antibiotic use, and may lead to a variety of health issues. Symptoms include:

Hair loss and thinning:

Biotin supports keratin production, the structural protein in hair. A deficiency weakens hair roots, causing breakage and slow regrowth.

Skin issues:

Biotin is essential for skin health. Dry, scaly, or red patches around the nose, mouth, and eyes can indicate low biotin levels.

Brittle nails:

Weak, cracking, or thin nails are often associated with biotin deficiency. Biotin strengthens nail beds and promotes growth.

Fatigue and lethargy:

Biotin contributes to energy production by breaking down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. Lack of it may lead to chronic fatigue, muscle weakness, and sluggishness.

Neurological symptoms:

Severe cases may cause depression, tingling in the limbs, or cognitive impairments. Biotin is involved in nerve signaling, which is vital for brain health.

Muscle pain and cramps:

These symptoms may result from the body's inability to metabolize nutrients for muscle function, often linked to insufficient energy production.

Which foods contain biotin?

Biotin (Vitamin B7) is found in high amounts in egg yolks, organ meats (especially liver), nuts and seeds (almonds, peanuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds), legumes (beans, lentils, soybeans), sweet potatoes, and avocados.

Foods richest in biotin include:

Egg yolks
Organ meats (especially liver)
Nuts and seeds (almonds, peanuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds)
Legumes (beans, lentils, soybeans)
Sweet potatoes
Avocados

Food	Average Biotin Content (µg)	Portion
Egg (whole)	~10 µg	1 piece (large)
Liver (beef/lamb)	~30 µg	100 g (cooked)
Salmon	~19 µg	85 g (approximately 1 serving)
Almonds	~1.5 µg	30 g (a handful)
Peanuts	~35 µg	100 g (raw/uncooked)
Avocado	~2 µg	1 piece (medium size)
Sweet potato	~2.4 µg	1 piece (medium size, cooked)
Mushroom (raw)	~2.6 µg	½ cup (sliced)

Note: Values are approximate and may vary depending on food type and cooking method (raw, boiled, fried, etc.).

What is the daily biotin requirement for the human body?

Since biotin is found in many natural foods, studies suggest that a healthy and balanced diet provides about 35–70 micrograms of biotin daily. Although biotin deficiency is rare, it may occur in individuals with health issues affecting biotin metabolism or those with biotin-poor diets. Pregnant or breastfeeding women may also have increased biotin needs. In such cases, biotin supplements may be necessary under medical supervision.

What are the side effects of Biotin?

Allergic reactions: Some individuals may experience redness, itching, or rashes due to biotin allergy.
Toxicity: Excessive intake may cause nausea, diarrhea, skin rashes, or even heart issues in high doses.
Interference with blood tests: Biotin can alter the results of certain blood tests. Inform your doctor if you are taking supplements before having lab work.

In summary, although biotin is an essential vitamin for the body, it should be consumed in the correct dosage. Overconsumption may cause side effects.

When should Biotin supplements be taken?

Biotin tablets can be taken at different times of the day. However, taking this supplement on a full stomach and before bedtime is considered more suitable in terms of bodily activities. When swallowed with plenty of water before sleep, the biotin tablet is absorbed throughout the night and may reflect its benefits more effectively. In summary, you can take one tablet immediately after a meal.

Biotin and beauty: Effects on hair and nails

Background: Biotin has gained commercial popularity due to its claimed benefits for healthy hair and nail growth. Despite its reputation, there is limited research supporting its effectiveness in healthy individuals.

Objective: To systematically review the literature on biotin’s efficacy for hair and nail growth.

Methods: We searched all case reports and randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on PubMed using the following terms: (biotin and hair); (biotin and supplement and hair); (biotin supplementation); (biotin and alopecia); (biotin and nails); (biotin and dermatology); and (biotin recommendations).

Results: We found 18 reported cases related to the use of biotin for hair and nail changes. In all cases, the patients who took biotin supplements had underlying pathologies causing poor hair or nail growth. Clinical improvement was observed in all cases after taking biotin.

Conclusion: Although biotin is commonly used as a supplement for hair and nail growth, research supporting its efficacy is limited. Biotin supplementation may be beneficial in cases of acquired or inherited biotin deficiency and in pathologies such as brittle nail syndrome or uncombable hair. However, these cases are rare, and there is insufficient evidence to recommend supplementation for healthy individuals.

Biotin and drug interactions

Biotin, a B vitamin, is an essential nutrient naturally found in some foods and available as a dietary supplement. This water-soluble vitamin acts as a cofactor for five carboxylases (propionyl-CoA carboxylase, pyruvate carboxylase, methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase [MCC], acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1, and acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2), which catalyze critical steps in the metabolism of fatty acids, glucose, and amino acids.

Biotin also plays important roles in histone modification, gene regulation (by altering transcription factor activity), and cell signaling. Most biotin in food is protein-bound, although some dietary biotin exists in free form. Gastrointestinal proteases and peptidases break down protein-bound forms into biocytin and biotin-oligopeptides, which are further processed by the enzyme biotinidase in the intestinal lumen, releasing free biotin. Free biotin is then absorbed in the small intestine, and most of it is stored in the liver.

There are few reliable indicators of biotin status. In healthy adults, serum biotin concentrations range from 133 to 329 pmol/L and urinary levels from 18 to 127 nmol/24 h. Abnormally low urinary excretion of biotin indicates deficiency, as do elevated excretion levels of 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid (above 3.3 mmol/mol creatinine) or 3-hydroxyisovalerylcarnitine (above 0.06 mmol/mol creatinine) due to reduced MCC activity.

The most reliable individual biomarkers of biotin status—whether deficient or adequate—are biotinylated MCC and propionyl-CoA carboxylase levels in white blood cells.

Oral administration of high doses of biotin increases serum concentrations of biotin and its metabolites. However, these concentrations are not reliable indicators of marginal biotin deficiency, as the changes in marginal deficiency cases are not easily detectable with current testing methods.

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