What is biotin? Uses and health benefits of vitamin B7

Find out all about biotin, including what it does, how much you need, where to find it and who might need to supplement their diet

Written by Madeleine Bailey on 7 December, 2018 Reviewed by Dr Sarah Schenker on December 17, 2018

Overview

What is biotin and what does it do?

Biotin belongs to the B-group family of vitamins. It’s sometimes known as vitamin B7.¹ We need biotin for:²

• processing the nutrients from our food
• energy release
• healthy hair, skin and mucous membranes
• normal nervous system and mental health

Biotin is a water-soluble nutrient, so we can’t store it in our body, but the bacteria that live in our guts can produce a small amount.³ Biotin is also found in a wide variety of foods, including liver, egg yolks and yeast.⁴

Function of biotin

What does biotin do in the body?

Biotin has an important role in supporting the enzymes that break down the fat, protein and carbohydrates from the food we eat, turning them into energy.⁵ Biotin also helps us maintain normal healthy hair and skin.⁶ Our bodies use it to enable cells to reproduce properly, and skin and hair have a high cell-turnover. Together with other B vitamins, biotin also supports normal psychological and nervous system function⁷ by helping to maintain neurons in the brain.

How much biotin do I need?

Adults, including pregnant women, need 40mcg of biotin every day. Breast-feeding women need slightly more: 45mcg.⁸

How much biotin do children need?

• 6 months to 1 year – 6mcg a day
• 1-3 years – 20mcg
• 4-10 years – 25mcg
• adolescents – 35mcg⁹

Biotin foods

Which foods are the best sources of biotin?

The best animal-based sources of biotin include:¹⁰

• beef liver
• cooked eggs – absorption of biotin is blocked by a protein in raw egg whites
• salmon
• pork
• dairy products such as milk and cheese

The best plant-based sources of biotin include:¹¹

• sweet potato
• roasted almonds
• spinach
• broccoli
• bananas

Biotin deficiency

What are the symptoms of biotin deficiency?

Biotin deficiency is very rare because it is found in so many foods. If it does occur, symptoms include:¹²

• hair loss
• dry, flaky skin
• a rash on the face
• tiredness and muscle pain
• depression

What happens if I consume too much biotin?

Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin, so you’ll get rid of any excess in your urine. However, EU guidelines recommend not consuming any more than 970mcg per day because there’s a lack of evidence about the harm caused by taking higher doses.¹³

Biotin supplements

When should I take biotin supplements?

Most people can get enough biotin by eating a balanced diet as it’s contained in such a wide range of foods.¹⁴ However, particular medications, like antibiotics, or digestive conditions such as colitis, can prevent your body absorbing nutrients efficiently. These people could consider taking a supplement.¹⁵

Should children take a biotin supplement?

Like adults, children should be able to get all the biotin they need from a healthy, balanced diet.

Should women take a biotin supplement during pregnancy?

Research suggests that women are at risk of a mild biotin deficiency during pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester.¹⁶ But taking high doses of biotin could harm the baby.

A specially formulated prenatal supplement will contain all the nutrients you need, including biotin, in the right amounts but check with your doctor if you’re unsure.

What are the potential benefits of taking biotin supplements?

Many people with a biotin deficiency develop hair loss or dry skin, so it’s thought that increasing your biotin intake may help improve your hair, skin and nail health. While there are only a small amount of studies in this area, there has been some reported success. A 2007 study published in Journal of Drugs in Dermatology reported that taking 2.5mg of biotin a day could improve brittle nails,¹⁹ while a review of clinical trials in 2018 concluded that biotin could improve firmness, hardness and thickness of brittle nails, but called for larger trials to be carried out. Shop B Vitamins Advice is for information only and should not replace medical care. Please check with your GP before trying any remedies.

Sources 

1. Christian Nordqvist. Medical News Today. Why do we need biotin, or Vitamin B7? 2. European Commission. EU Register on Nutrition and Health Claims 3. NHS. B vitamins and folic acid

4. As Source 1

5. Hrefna Palsdottir. Medical News Today. What are the health benefits of biotin?

6. As above
7. As Source 2

8. European Food Safety Authority. Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for biotin

9. As above

10. National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements. Biotin: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals

11. As above

12. Kimberly Holland. Healthline. Biotin deficiency 13. Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals. Safe Upper Limits for Vitamins and Minerals 2003

14. As Source 3
15. As Source 12

16. Mock DM, Quirk JG, Mock NI. Marginal biotin deficiency during normal pregnancy 17. Cara J Stevens. Healthline. Health benefits of biotin 18. Scheinfeld N, Dahdah MJ, Scher R. Vitamins and minerals: their role in nail health and disease 19. Lipner SR, Scher RK. Biotin for the treatment of nail disease: what is the evidence?