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What is Biotin?

Biotin is a water soluble essential vitamin that is usually considered a member of the B-complex of vitamins usually referred to a Vitamin B7, and is also commonly referred to as Vitamin H. Biotin is necessary for physiological processes of all organisms and plants but it can only by synthesized by bacteria, yeasts and molds, algae and some plants. Biotin is of great importance for the biochemistry of the human organism because it is directly involved in carbon dioxide transfer and therefore essential to the metabolism of carbohydrate and fat. A balanced diet usually contains enough biotin, which is essential for metabolic reactions involving carbohydrates and fats. As a prosthetic group of mitochondrial enzymes (carboylases), biotin plays a crucial part as a CO2-transporter in vital metabolic reactions such as gluconeogenesis, synthesis of fatty acids and metabolism of amino acids. Typically found in liver, egg yolk, cereals, legumes and nuts, Biotin can also be characterized as relatively stable in heat, light, and oxygen.

Biotin is an important vitamin by functioning as a catalyst of certain enzymes in the body. Biotin serves as an essential coenzyme for four carboxylase enzymes by becoming a cofactor in their active sites, each of which is important in metabolism: Acetyl-CoA carboxylase catalyzes acetyl-CoA to form Malonyl-CoA which is required for the synthesis of fatty acids. Pyruvate carboxylase is an enzyme involved in gluconeogenesis (the synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources such as amino acids and fats. Methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase is a catalyst necessary for the metabolism of L-Leucine, an essential amino acid. Propionyl-CoA carboxylase catalyzes amino acids, cholesterol, and odd chain fatty acids.

Biotin is used for the breakdown and utilization by the body of food as part of the B vitamin complex, and also helps in the synthesis of fatty acids, in energy metabolism, and in the synthesis of amino acids and glucose. Biotin stimulates normal health of sweat glands, and is critical to the proper health of bone marrow, male gonads, blood cells, nerve tissue, skin, hair. In the body, biotin is found in low levels in the brain, liver and muscle tissue. Biotin is also utilized to manufacture intracellular carboxylase enzymes and is essential for normal growth and health of skin and hair.

Biotin can also be found abundant in beans, breads, brewer's yeast, cauliflower, chocolate, fish, kidney, legumes, meat, molasses, dairy products, nuts, oatmeal, oysters, peanut butter, poultry, wheat germ, and whole grains. Egg whites contain a substance that prevents biotin from being absorbed into the blood from the intestines. Food-processing techniques can destroy biotin, and because of this, less-processed versions of the foods listed above will yield more biotin. In the intestines, bacteria synthesize a small amount of biotin, which may be absorbed and contribute to daily needs.

What is Biotin used for and who uses it?

The primary role of biotin lies in its ability to metabolize fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Biotin works as a vital part of several enzymes (where it functions as a coenzyme) involved in energy metabolism (such as pyruvate carboxylase). Aside from helping in the synthesis of fatty acids, in energy metabolism, and in the synthesis of amino acids and glucose, Biotin is also involved in making it possible for the body to utilize blood sugar (glucose), for its energy needs. As a dietary supplement, the major benefit of biotin lies in its ability to improve and strengthen hair and nails. Biotin supplements can improve and restore thin, splitting, or brittle toe and fingernails as well as hair health. Biotin has also been used to fight alopecia in both children and adults, a condition characterized by partial or complete loss of hair.

Biotin is used to treat the biotin-responsive inborn errors of metabolism holocarboxylase synthetase deficiency and biotinidase deficiency. Large doses of biotin may be administered to babies to help treat a condition known as infantile seborrhea or to patients with genetic abnormalities in biotin metabolism. Biotin supplements are also given sometimes to help reduce and/or manage blood sugar among diabetics owing to the fact that people with type 2 diabetes often have low levels of biotin. Some skin disorders, such as "cradle cap" (a dermatitis of the scalp that is common in infants) improve with biotin supplements. Biotin has also been used to fight and delay premature graying of hair, though it is likely to be useful only for those with low biotin concentrations. For those who have weight problems, Biotin has been used in weight loss programs to help metabolize fat more efficiently.

How pure is your Biotin?

This pharmaceutical grade vitamin Biotin 1% is a blended product of approximately 1% Biotin USP (CAS 58-85-5) and 99% of the trituration carrier Dicalcium Phosphate USP (7757-93-9). The Biotin portion of this blended product is assayed by the manufacturer to be 1.01%. You will receive a labeled heavy-duty 4 mil polyethylene bag containing this manufactured pure bulk ultrafine powder product without any fillers, additives or anti-caking agents. Biotin is of great importance for the biochemistry of the human organism because its primary role is in the metabolism of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, and is important vitamin for helping certain enzymes in the body. Biotin is required in a number of enzymatic reactions in the body, particularly in the production of energy from carbohydrates and fats. It is also crucial in the synthesis of fatty acids, in energy metabolism, and in the synthesis of amino acids and glucose. For these reasons, supplementation may be necessary.

What are some of the common effects of Biotin deficiency?

Symptoms of biotin deficiency include hair loss, red scaly rash around the eyes, nose, mouth, and genitals. Neurologic symptoms of biotin deficiency may also include depression, lethargy, hallucinations, and numbness of the extremities. The characteristic facial rash is referred to as the "biotin deficient face" by some clinical practitioners.

Biotin deficiency can be induced in humans by feeding them raw egg whites, which contain a protein that binds biotin and prevents its absorption. Long-term antibiotic use can interfere with biotin production in the intestine and increase the risk of deficiency symptoms, such as dermatitis, depression, hair loss, anemia, and nausea. Long-term use of anti-seizure medications may also lead to biotin deficiency.

Biotin deficiency results in fatigue, depression, nausea, muscle pains, hair loss, and anemia. Biotin is necessary for both metabolism and growth in humans, particularly with reference to production of fatty acids, antibodies, digestive enzymes, and in niacin (vitamin B3) metabolism. Individuals with hereditary disorders of biotin metabolism resulting in functional biotin deficiency have evidence of impaired immune system function, including increased susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infections.

What is the daily suggested dose of Biotin?

The U.S. RDA for biotin, the value used for nutritional supplement and food labeling purposes, is 300 micrograms/day. Since this Biotin powder is 1% Biotin by weight a level 1/8 (one eighth) teaspoon will contain approximately 567 milligrams Biotin 1% or approximately 5.7 milligrams net Biotin. You can see the full bulk density/volumetric conversion chart for Biotin here. Vitamin H or Biotin works best when combined with B-vitamins.

As always, if you have concerns or questions, consult a physician or a health care professional before taking any supplements. Before taking any kind of medicine, check with your doctor to ensure that the supplement you want to take is right for you. You may be allergic or you may have a sensitive stomach which may raise the need for special instruction as far as dosage goes.

Precautions and Potential side effects of Biotin

Symptoms, problems, toxicity and side effects of Biotin overuse are very rare. Biotin doses of up to 200mg per day are well tolerated by individuals with hereditary disorders involving biotin metabolism. In individuals without such biotin disorders doses of 5 to 10 milligrams per day have not been associated with adverse effects. This is because just like other water soluble B-vitamins, excess biotin is excreted in the urine.

The information at Purebulk.com is NOT a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not use any dietary supplement as a replacement for conventional care, or as a reason to postpone seeing a doctor about a medical problem. Tell all your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.

Taste, solubility, and suggested preparation of Biotin

Biotin 1% has almost no taste and will not readily dissolve in water, but it will thoroughly mix and suspend with water when stirred. You can add your usual dose to water, stir and drink, or you can add your Biotin 1% dose to juice or smoothies.

Biotin is used in the following Proprietary Formulas

Universal Animal Pak, Optimum Opti-Men, AST Multi Pro 32X, Optimum Opti-Women, NOW ADAM, Country Life Biotin, Natrol Biotin, NOW Biotin, Twinlab Biotin

References & Further Research

Effect of Dietary Biotin and Lipid on Growth, Stamina, Lipid Metabolism and Biotin-containing Enzymes in Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)
Simultaneous dietary fat and biotin deficiencies in brook trout suppressed weight gain, feed/gain efficiency, swimming stamina, and total liver lipids. Dietary fat alone reduced body water, increased body fat and ash, reversed the elevating effect of biotin plus fat on liver palmitic and stearic acids, and widened the 16:0 to 16:1, 18:0 to 18:1, 18:2 to 20:4 and 18:3 to 22:5 liver fatty acid ratios. Fat also accentuated the accumulation of liver oleic and linoleic acids caused by biotin deprivation and apparently prevented docosapentaenoic acid biosynthesis in biotin-deprived trout. Fish fed fat with no biotin had the least, and those fed biotin with no fat the most, liver acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) and pyruvate carboxylase (PC) activities. Those fed neither supplemental biotin nor fat and those fed both showed equal liver ACC activity.

Inborn Errors of Biotin Metabolism
The important role of biotin in human physiology has been highlighted by the recognition of two newly discovered human inborn errors of the metabolism of biotin. The molecular defect in the neonatal-onset disease is in the enzyme holocarboxylase synthetase. The defect in the later infantile-onset disease is in the enzyme biotinidase. Both disorders present with impressive clinical manifestations involving the skin and hair. In the neonatal disease, alopecia totalis is associated with a bright red scaly total body eruption. In biotinidase deficiency, the alopecia is more patchy and the skin lesions resemble acrodermatitis enteropathica. Both disorders are complicated by recurrent episodes of life-threatening acidosis and massive ketosis.

The Effect of Chromium Picolinate and Biotin Supplementation on Glycemic Control in Poorly Controlled Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blinded, Randomized Trial
Preclinical studies have shown that the combination of chromium picolinate and biotin significantly enhances glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells and enhances glucose disposal. The present pilot study was conducted to determine if supplementation with chromium picolinate and biotin can improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with suboptimal glycemic control despite use of oral antihyperglycemic agents. This pilot study demonstrates that supplementation with a combination of chromium picolinate and biotin in poorly controlled patients with diabetes receiving antidiabetic therapy improved glucose management and several lipid measurements. Chromium picolinate/ biotin supplementation may represent an effective adjunctive nutritional therapy to people with poorly controlled diabetes with the potential for improving lipid metabolism.

Biotin for International Customers

We have the most economical shipping costs & labeling practices for International orders. You can see our shipping costs here. Also, please note, that anything in a 1.5kg package can be shipped within a single flat rate envelope, however our shopping cart mistakenly displays 2 envelopes. Go ahead and ship the order, and you will notice that it only charges you the cost of 1 anyway. Look at the shipping costs tab above to see for yourself how you can calculate these charges.

Buying Biotin Bulk or Wholesale

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