The synthesis of energy, the integrity of the neurological system, and other biological processes depend on the micronutrient biotin (vitamin B7). Biotin, which may be obtained as a supplement and is present in many meals, is best recognized for preventing alopecia and for bolstering hair and nails.
There is evidence that biotin may help patients with diabetes better control their blood sugar levels and lessen the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, but more research is required to confirm these claims. Biotin is normally safe to take, but if you want to use it, you should talk to your healthcare professional because the vitamin may interfere with some drugs and lab tests.
What research says about biotin and hair growth
Your body can benefit greatly from biotin. Its main function is to assist in converting the food you ingest into energy. Additionally, it is necessary for your body to manufacture keratin, the kind of protein found in skin, hair, and nails. Since biotin is found in many foods, healthy individuals who consume a balanced diet are unlikely to be deficient in it.
Biotin deficiencies are uncommon, but they can result in brittle nails, skin rashes, and thinning and loss of hair. This is because the vitamin helps produce keratin. Therefore, it’s typical to see advertisements for biotin-infused hair products and supplements promising thicker, more voluminous hair or healthy hair development.
Despite these assertions, there isn’t much data to support the idea that biotin supplements or lathering them through your hair encourages hair growth in those who aren’t low in the vitamin. Women who felt they had thinning hair were randomly assigned to take a multi-ingredient hair growth supplement containing biotin or a placebo for a period of six months in a previous 2012 study.
Following the treatment period, those who took the hair growth supplement saw a noticeable improvement in their total hair volume, thickness, and scalp coverage. In the meantime, the placebo group did not experience any notable alterations.
It’s not feasible to credit the study’s results to biotin alone, though, as the hair growth supplement also included zinc and iron, two other elements that are essential for hair growth. Furthermore, because the trial was small, it’s likely that some of the subjects lacked one or more of the nutrients in the supplement that have an impact on the health of their hair. During the study period, any such shortage could have been rectified, leading to the development of hair.
In a related study, researchers discovered that all youngsters who took biotin supplements and saw an improvement in their hair’s growth or quality did so because they had an underlying medical issue that resulted in a biotin shortage. Aside from these trials, there isn’t much proof to back up taking pills or applying hair products containing biotin to encourage hair growth.
Does biotin help prevent hair loss?
There isn’t much evidence to support using biotin alone to promote hair development, although there is some data to support avoiding hair loss. However, biotin insufficiency is the only condition in which biotin supplements are expected to stop hair loss and encourage hair growth.
In one study, 38% of women who reported having hair loss also had a biotin deficit. Among these individuals, 11% had a medical history of deficiencies, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or antibiotic use. This study shows a connection between low levels of biotin and hair loss, even though it did not evaluate the impact of biotin supplements or hair products containing biotin on preventing hair loss.
Because there are many variables that contribute to hair loss and thinning hair, taking biotin supplements without first figuring out what’s causing the problem may hinder or postpone the necessary therapy in cases where a biotin deficiency isn’t the problem.
It’s not always the case that biotin deficiencies stop hair loss, even in those situations where biotin supplements are taken. For instance, after gastric sleeve surgery, researchers in one trial gave a biotin supplement to 22 patients who had low biotin levels due to hair loss. Five of the patients reported a considerable decrease in hair loss after three months, fourteen reported a minor effect, and three reported no effect at all, suggesting that additional factors might potentially be involved in hair loss and how to avoid it.
Does biotin help increase hair growth?
An important vitamin called biotin aids in the synthesis of keratin, a protein responsible for the formation of nails, skin, and hair. A deficiency in biotin within your body has been linked to hair loss in several studies, one of which was conducted in 2016.
If so, you might be wondering if taking more biotin can improve the development of your hair. And such statements have probably come up in any Google searches you may have done on the subject. It’s crucial to understand the distinction between products that aid in hair development and those that aid in preventing hair loss. Currently, insufficient data exists to conclusively say that biotin promotes hair growth. However, it has been demonstrated that biotin can help prevent hair loss and balding. In a short 2012 study, women who took a multivitamin containing biotin reported improvements in their overall hair growth and thickness in relation to their self-perceived thinning hair.
Risks and warnings
Due to its water solubility, biotin taken as a dietary supplement is generally safe and unlikely to have harmful consequences. Nevertheless, sleeplessness, increased thirst, and frequent urination can result in a biotin overdose. Consuming them can also result in elevated blood levels of biotin, which can cause problems for lab tests that assess thyroid hormones, vitamin D, and heart health, among other things.
This is because biotin is used in a lot of laboratory tests since it may attach to certain proteins and identify certain diseases. As a result, if you take or intend to take any supplements that include biotin, please inform your doctor. Some prenatal and multivitamins might be among them.
It’s also important to remember that certain antiepileptic medications, such as primidone, carbamazepine, phenytoin, and phenobarbital, can cause a decrease in biotin levels. If you take any of these, make sure you’re getting enough biotin via your food, supplements, or a combination of the two by speaking with your doctor or a dietitian.
Medical specialists view biotin as quite safe. There have been no unfavorable side effects from even extremely high doses of up to 300 mg per day used to treat MS. Adults should take far less each day—30 mcg. Since biotin is a water-soluble vitamin, whatever of it that the body is unable to absorb is eliminated through the urine. On the other hand, there have been instances where biotin overdoses have led to unusual thyroid test findings. Before attempting a biotin supplement, anyone with a thyroid disease might find it helpful to consult with a physician.
According to research, there is relatively little risk associated with using biotin supplements, even at high levels. Your body excretes any excess biotin through urine because it is soluble in water. However, if you take too much, it may cause negative lab test results or interact with other medications you take. Never withhold information about dietary supplements from your doctor.
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FAQs
There isn’t much evidence to support using biotin alone to promote hair development, although there is some data to support avoiding hair loss. However, biotin insufficiency is the only condition in which biotin supplements are expected to stop hair loss and encourage hair growth.
Liquid vitamin B7 is infused into the shaft during biotin therapy, which can speed up the creation of new follicles. In contrast, keratin protein is utilized in keratin treatments, which helps to strengthen hair, make it less prone to breaking, and provide the appearance of new hair development, but it is less likely to really induce new hair growth.
Hair loss can result from a lack of biotin, although supplements can promote hair growth. Nevertheless, there is no proof that biotin tablets can increase hair growth in people who do not have a deficiency.
Conclusion
For those without a deficit, there isn’t much evidence to support the use of biotin to promote hair development or stop hair loss. Correcting a biotin deficiency can help restore hair development in certain people because hair loss and poor growth are sometimes linked to deficiencies in this vitamin.
A lack of certain nutrients, such as iron and zinc, is one of the many other causes of hair loss and thinning. Most people’s diets provide them with adequate biotin. Low levels, however, can be brought on by a few diseases, lifestyle choices, and drug interactions. Before undergoing any blood tests, let your doctor know if you intend to take a biotin supplement as the vitamin may affect the findings of several lab tests.