Biotin is a type of B Vitamin that helps the body metabolize fat and carbohydrates. It also plays an important role in the citric acid cycle and fatty acid synthesis. Health experts recommend that a person take in anywhere from 25 to 30 milligrams a day of this nutrient.
Typically, the recommended amount of biotin, can be met by eating vegetables, peanuts, milk and egg yolks. Of course, there are other foods that can biotin, but the above suggestion should suffice. Many people who work in labs sometimes use this nutrient to chemically link proteins.
What role does Biotin play in health?
When it comes to your health, biotin, plays an important function, by helping to maintain good health. It helps keep the hair healthy and prevent breakage. In fact, many people have found that increasing one’s intake, can help reverse hair loss. This vitamin also helps maintain healthy skin and treat conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis. Biotin can also be very effective for treating diabetes because it helps control blood sugar. It can also help prevent a diabetes-related complication called neuropathy, which causes tingling in the hands and the feet.
This vitamin (biotin), is also necessary for repairing tissues. This nutrient aids in promoting a healthy heart because it can reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood. There is even been studies done that suggest that this vitamin can help aid in weight loss because it helps burn fat. Additionally, this vitamin can potentially treat many other illness including: Parkinson’s disease, Rett’s syndrome and Yeast infection.
What happens if you don’t receive enough Biotin?
It is important to note that deficiency of this nutrient, is extremely rare and most people get more than the recommended amounts in their diets. However, if a person does have a deficiency of biotin, he or she will exhibit some of the following symptoms:
- Hair loss
- Conjunctivitis
- Dermatitis
- Depression and lethargy
More serious problems can occur to a small amount of people, such as, hallucinations, high cholesterol and heart problems. Pregnant women and those who have a genetic disorder are most prone to a deficiency. Those who drink alcohol in excess or eat a-lot of egg whites also have an increased risk of developing a deficiency.
Increasing one’s intake of Biotin-rich foods and/or taking a supplement, will correct a deficiency in most people. It is also important to note that getting more than the recommended dosage is not likely to cause any adverse health effects.
Does this nutrient have to combined with other vitamins/nutrients to work properly?
This vitamin does not have to be combined with other vitamins or nutrients to work properly. However, it may be more effective if it is combined with other nutrients. If a person is trying to treat hair loss, combining Biotin with Vitamin E and niacin will produce the best results. If a person is diabetic and wants to use this vitamin to control that condition, taking chromium will help a person manage his or her blood sugar better.
Additional information about biotin that you should know:
Again, most people get the recommended amount of Biotin simply by eating enough of the foods that contain this nutrient. If you are looking to an all around multi vitamin to ensure you are getting enough biotin, then check out Trivita’s Wellovah for men or women.