Biotin
What is it?
Biotin is a vitamin found in a number of foods. It has enzymes that help to digest fats, carbohydrates and others. It is taken as supplement for patients with biotin deficiency.
Biotin deficiency patients usually present with scaly rash on face (eyes, mouth and nose area), thinning of hair, fatigue, depression, tingling feelings in arms and legs and also sometimes hallucinations.
Biotin deficiency may occur in patients who have rapid weight loss, malnutrition, those on long term tube feeding, some diabetes patients and also during pregnancy states.
Benefits
Biotin supplements is usually taken by people who have symptoms as a result of biotin deficiency.
There is insufficient evidence to prove that biotin helps in hair loss, diabetes, brittle nail condition and diabetic neuropathy.
Possible side effects
Biotin is generally safe when taken orally and also when given as injections in some medically indicated cases. It is also safe in pregnant/lactating women as they may have mild biotin deficiency.
Also those patients who have kidney failure on dialysis may need slightly higher dose of biotin.
Drug-drug interactions
Currently there are no evidence based studies to prove any significant drug-drug interactions with biotin.
Dosage
Please follow the instructions given by your doctor and if in doubt if you require this supplement please consult your doctor first. There is currently no guidelines on daily dose of biotin supplements for people without any clinical indications. Below is the biotin requirements for our daily life according to our age and conditions, we can usually get enough biotin from our food.
Biotin: Adequate Intake (AI) per day according to age group
0-6 months: 5 micrograms/day
7-12 months: 6 mcg/day
1-3 years: 8 mcg/day
4-8 years: 12 mcg/day
9-13 years: 20 mcg/day
14-18 years: 25 mcg/day
19 years and up: 30 mcg/day
Pregnant women: 30 mcg/day
Breastfeeding women: 35 mcg/day
What is it?
Biotin is a vitamin found in a number of foods. It has enzymes that help to digest fats, carbohydrates and others. It is taken as supplement for patients with biotin deficiency.
Biotin deficiency patients usually present with scaly rash on face (eyes, mouth and nose area), thinning of hair, fatigue, depression, tingling feelings in arms and legs and also sometimes hallucinations.
Biotin deficiency may occur in patients who have rapid weight loss, malnutrition, those on long term tube feeding, some diabetes patients and also during pregnancy states.
Benefits
Biotin supplements is usually taken by people who have symptoms as a result of biotin deficiency.
There is insufficient evidence to prove that biotin helps in hair loss, diabetes, brittle nail condition and diabetic neuropathy.
Possible side effects
Biotin is generally safe when taken orally and also when given as injections in some medically indicated cases. It is also safe in pregnant/lactating women as they may have mild biotin deficiency.
Also those patients who have kidney failure on dialysis may need slightly higher dose of biotin.
Drug-drug interactions
Currently there are no evidence based studies to prove any significant drug-drug interactions with biotin.
Dosage
Please follow the instructions given by your doctor and if in doubt if you require this supplement please consult your doctor first. There is currently no guidelines on daily dose of biotin supplements for people without any clinical indications. Below is the biotin requirements for our daily life according to our age and conditions, we can usually get enough biotin from our food.
Biotin: Adequate Intake (AI) per day according to age group
0-6 months: 5 micrograms/day
7-12 months: 6 mcg/day
1-3 years: 8 mcg/day
4-8 years: 12 mcg/day
9-13 years: 20 mcg/day
14-18 years: 25 mcg/day
19 years and up: 30 mcg/day
Pregnant women: 30 mcg/day
Breastfeeding women: 35 mcg/day
