Biotin Vitamin

Within recommended doses and multivitamin supplement doses, biotin has no side effects, and because it is water soluble and the system flushes whatever it doesn’t need through the urinary tract and bowels, even in higher doses there should be no real ill effects. However, it does have the potential to interact with certain medications, and precaution and research should always be done before embarking on any new medication or supplement. Antibiotics and anti-seizure medications are two categories you should pay particular attention to when making your decision to start taking biotin and as with any new medication you should discuss this with your doctor or the pharmacist first. There have also been documented cases of skin infections with long term usage, and because it has the potential to lower blood glucose levels, diabetics should heed the precautions. Although it has more of a tendency to improve this condition it still merits consideration when making the decision.

Biotin deficiency is rare as our bodies generally produce an excess of what we require daily. But there are some metabolic disorders, called Multiple Carboxylase Deficiencies, which inhibit our bodies from producing enough biotin due to deficiencies in the enzymes that break down the biotin-protein bonds in foods. Symptoms of these disorders include decreased appetite and growth, alopecia, dermatitis, achromotrichia (absence of pigment in hair), perosis (shortening and thickening of bones). Hepatic Steatosis, which is a condition where large amounts of triglyceride fats accumulate in liver cells can occur, however it is reversible.

Decreased circulating levels of biotin have also been noted in alcoholics, burn patients, epileptics, the elderly, athletes and those who have had a partial gastrectomy. As well, deficiency can also be caused by excessive consumption of raw egg whites.

Some of the main symptoms of biotin deficiency include alopecia or hair loss, conjunctivitis, dermatitis around the eyes, nose, mouth and genitals, and neurological symptoms including lethargy, depression, numbness and tingling of extremities, and hallucinations.

If you suspect deficiency problems, try a biotin supplement, or a good multivitamin to see if it relieves some of the symptoms. If this doesn’t work, discuss your concerns with your doctor to rule out the possibility of any underlying medical conditions which might be causing the deficiency.