Vitamin H ( Biotin ) potential benefits

Overview:
Vitamin H, more commonly known as biotin, is considered part of the B complex group of vitamins. All B vitamins help the body to convert food (carbohydrates) into fuel (glucose), which is "burned" 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 necessary for healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver. They also help the nervous system function properly.

Your body needs biotin to metabolize carbohydrates, fats, and amino acids (the building blocks of protein). Biotin is often recommended for strengthening hair and nails and is found in many cosmetic products for hair and skin. It is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning the body does not store it; however, bacteria in the intestine can make biotin. It is also available in small amounts a number of foods.

Biotin deficiency is rare. Symptoms include 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. People who have been on parenteral nutrition (nutrition administered intravenously rather than through the mouth or stomach) for a long period of time, those taking anticonvulsant medication or antibiotics long-term, and people with malabsorption syndromes are more likely to be deficient in biotin.

There are few good quality studies evaluating biotin, so many of its proposed uses are based on preliminary evidence or case reports:

Hair and Nail Problems

Preliminary evidence suggests that biotin supplements may improve thin, splitting, or brittle toe and fingernails as well as hair. Biotin, combined with zinc and topical clobetasol propionate, has also been used to combat alopecia (partial or complete loss of hair) in both children and adults.

Cradle Cap (Seborrheic Dermatitis)

Infants who don't have enough biotin often develop this scaly scalp condition. Although no studies have confirmed that biotin supplements -- given in formula or breast milk -- effectively treat cradle cap, there are individual reports of some doing better with this treatment.

Biotinidase Deficiency

Biotinidase deficiency, a rare inherited condition, 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. Biotin supplements improve symptoms.

Another rare inherited metabolic disorder (which resembles biotinidase deficiency) is called holocaroxylase synthetase deficiency. It also alters biotin metabolism and infants with this condition tend to improve from biotin supplements.

Diabetes

Some preliminary research indicates that a combination of biotin and chromium might improve blood sugar control in some people with type 2 diabetes, but biotin alone doesn't seem to have the same effect. More research is needed to know for sure whether biotin has any benefit.

Peripheral Neuropathy

There have been reports that biotin supplements improve the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy for some people who developed this condition from either diabetes or ongoing dialysis for kidney failure. Peripheral neuropathy occurs when the nerves of the extremities (often the feet) are damaged. Numbness, tingling, burning or strange sensations, pain, muscle weakness, and difficulty walking are some symptoms. However, more research is needed to know for sure whether biotin can help treat this condition.

Dietary Sources:
Biotin can be found in brewer's yeast; cooked eggs, especially egg yolk; sardines; nuts (almonds, peanuts, pecans, walnuts) and nut butters; soybeans; other legumes (beans, blackeye peas, peanuts); whole grains; cauliflower; bananas; and mushrooms.

Raw egg whites contain a protein called Avidin that interferes with the body's absorption of biotin.

Food-processing techniques can destroy biotin. Less-processed versions of the foods listed above will contain more biotin.

Available Forms:
Biotin is available in 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.

How to Take It:
As with all supplements, check with a health care 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 - 12 months: 6 mcg
Children 1 - 3 years: 8 mcg
Children 4 - 8 years: 12 mcg
Children 9 - 13 years: 20 mcg
Adolescents 14 - 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 health care provider may recommend as much as 100 - 1,000 mcg of this supplement. Safety has been established only for dosages of 30 - 600 mcg.