Introduction
Biotin is a B-vitamin that is made by the body. Biotin can also be found in food products such as egg yolks, whole grains, and nuts. It has been used to prevent and treat biotin deficiency, help control blood glucose and to strength hair and nails. Biotin can be taken as a pill, powder, or extract.
Dosages
There are no advised doses for biotin.
What Research Shows
May Be Effective
- Multiple sclerosis —may improve symptoms when used with standard treatment B1
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Safety Notes
It is likely safe to take biotin orally in small doses for a short time. Not enough studies have been done to say whether it is safe to use for a long period.
Interactions
Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse.
References►
A. Diabetes
A1. Singer GM, Geohas J. 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. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2006 Dec;8(6):636-643.
A2. Albarracin C, Fuqua B, et al. Combination of chromium and biotin improves coronary risk factors in hypercholesterolemic type 2 diabetes mellitus: a placebo-controlled, double-blind randomized clinical trial. J Cardiometab Syndr. 2007;2(2):91-97.
A3. Albarracin CA, Fuqua BC, et al. Chromium picolinate and biotin combination improves glucose metabolism in treated, uncontrolled overweight obese patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2008;24(1):41-51.
B. Multiple sclerosis
B1. Tourbah A, Lebrun-Frenay C, et al. MD1003 (high-dose biotin) for the treatment of progressive multiple sclerosis: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Mult Scler. 2016;22(13):1719-1731.
C. Seborrheic Dermatitis
C1. Victoire A, Magin P, et al. Interventions for infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis (including cradle cap). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019 Mar 4;3:CD011380.
Last reviewed July 2019 by EBSCO NAT Review Board Eric Hurwitz, DC Last Updated: 9/9/2019