Biotin, also known as vitamin B7 and vitamin H, is apart of the B-complex vitamin group.http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02764/vitamin-b7 http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-lifestyle-guide/supplement-guide-biotin It is a water-soluble vitamin that is short lived in the body before being expelled through urine. Biotin helps the nervous system, skin, digestive tract, and the body’s cells. Biotin aids the cells in metabolizing sugar and fat for the production of energy the body needs.http://www.tufts-nemc.org/apps/HealthGate/Article.aspx?chunkiid=28698 http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-lifestyle-guide/supplement-guide-biotin

There are two forms of biotin: the free vitamin and biocytin. The free vitamin is the pure form of biotin, it is always active and used by the body. Biocytin is not an active form of biotin. Biocytin is biotin connected to an amino acid called lysine. Lysine must first be removed from biotin before the body can utilize it.http://www.tufts-nemc.org/apps/HealthGate/Article.aspx?chunkiid=28698 As a supplement, biotin is prescribed for people who have a deficiency due to diabetes, and symptoms of brittle nails, skin problems, and hair loss.http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-lifestyle-guide/supplement-guide-biotin http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/biotin/

Sources of biotin come from food. A healthy individual will get an adequate amount of biotin from food in their daily diet, and do not need to rely on supplements.http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-lifestyle-guide/supplement-guide-biotin Biotin can be found in yeast, whole wheat bread, eggs, cheddar cheese, liver, pork, salmon, avocado, raspberries, wheat germ, and raw cauliflower.http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/biotin/ http://www.tufts-nemc.org/apps/HealthGate/Article.aspx?chunkiid=28698

Biotin supplements come in the form of pills, capsules, lozenges, and injections.http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-lifestyle-guide/supplement-guide-biotin It is rare for an individual to be deficient in biotin, unless there are problems with absorbing nutrients with conditions such as celiac disease, colitis, and anorexia. High levels of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) can interfere with biotin levels and cause a deficiency.http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-biotin.html

The amount of biotin in a daily diet should be:

• Newborn to 6 months: 5 mcghttp://www.webmd.com/vitamins-lifestyle-guide/supplement-guide-biotin
• 7 to 12 months: 6 mcghttp://www.webmd.com/vitamins-lifestyle-guide/supplement-guide-biotin
• 1 to 3 years old: 8 mcghttp://www.webmd.com/vitamins-lifestyle-guide/supplement-guide-biotin
• 4 to 8 years old: 12 mcghttp://www.webmd.com/vitamins-lifestyle-guide/supplement-guide-biotin
• 9 to 13 years old: 20 mcghttp://www.webmd.com/vitamins-lifestyle-guide/supplement-guide-biotin
• 14 to 18 years old: 25 mcghttp://www.webmd.com/vitamins-lifestyle-guide/supplement-guide-biotin
• Over 19 years old: 30 mcghttp://www.webmd.com/vitamins-lifestyle-guide/supplement-guide-biotin
• Pregnant women: 30 mcghttp://www.webmd.com/vitamins-lifestyle-guide/supplement-guide-biotin
• Breastfeeding women: 35 mcghttp://www.webmd.com/vitamins-lifestyle-guide/supplement-guide-biotin

• Dry skinhttp://www.tufts-nemc.org/apps/HealthGate/Article.aspx?chunkiid=28698
• Loss of hairhttp://www.tufts-nemc.org/apps/HealthGate/Article.aspx?chunkiid=28698
• Loss of appetitehttp://www.tufts-nemc.org/apps/HealthGate/Article.aspx?chunkiid=28698
• Body becomes fatigue and lethargichttp://www.tufts-nemc.org/apps/HealthGate/Article.aspx?chunkiid=28698
• Suffer from depressionhttp://www.tufts-nemc.org/apps/HealthGate/Article.aspx?chunkiid=28698
• Heart problems and deformitieshttp://www.tufts-nemc.org/apps/HealthGate/Article.aspx?chunkiid=28698
• See hallucinationshttp://www.tufts-nemc.org/apps/HealthGate/Article.aspx?chunkiid=28698
• Stunted growth in childrenhttp://www.tufts-nemc.org/apps/HealthGate/Article.aspx?chunkiid=28698
• Feeling of numbness in limbshttp://www.tufts-nemc.org/apps/HealthGate/Article.aspx?chunkiid=28698

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact a doctor before using the information presented here.