Deficiency treatment is cause-specific; high doses for hair or nails are not well established.
Reviewed · Published
Biotin
A carboxylase cofactor involved in fatty-acid, glucose, and amino-acid metabolism.
Established functions
- A carboxylase cofactor involved in fatty-acid, glucose, and amino-acid metabolism.
Dietary sources
- cooked eggs
- nuts
- salmon
Claims and evidence
Claims that Biotin alone prevents or treats disease, or invariably improves health without deficiency, are unsupported.
Japanese reference amounts
- Japanese adults (age and sex as specified): Adults: 50 µg/day (AI)
Amounts studied
- Deficiency treatment is cause-specific; high doses for hair or nails are not well established.
Tolerable upper limits
- No UL is established, but laboratory interference can occur without overt toxicity.
Forms and bioavailability
Supplement forms: D-biotin, biotin in multivitamins
- Avidin in raw egg white binds biotin and is inactivated by cooking.
Safety and interactions
Adverse effects
- few toxicity reports but potentially serious laboratory-test errors
Medicine and nutrient interactions
- thyroid, troponin, hormone and other immunoassays
Contraindications and cautions
- Always disclose use before blood tests and pause only as instructed.
Practical selection
- Compare Biotin amount per serving, form, allergens, and batch testing; prefer a single-ingredient product suited to the intended use.
Sources and review
- Biotin interference with laboratory testsU.S. Food and Drug Administration
Daiki Minaki (editorial and evidence review) ·