• Important for hair, skin and nail health
• Essential nutrient for carbohydrate metabolism
• Required for synthesis of fatty acids
• Helps to maintain a healthy nervous system
• Assists in converting food to energy
• Involved in transformation of amino acids into protein
• Contributes to health of sex glands and sweat glands
• Promotes normal cell growth
• Energy Production
Biotin is essential for the intermediate metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats, and is involved in glycogen formation. Glycogen is stored in muscle and liver and is used for energy at rest and also for exercise energ
Biotin is a member of the B complex family, but it is not actually a vitamin. It is a coenzyme that works with vitamins. It is produced naturally in small amounts by the intestines. Biotin used to be known as Vitamin H. Biotin is found in many foods, including oatmeal, vegetables, peanuts, mushrooms, egg yolks, rice, nuts, spinach, potatoes and poultry and beef. Biotin gets its name from the Greek word bios, which means “life” and was first isolated in 1936. Biotin is water-soluble, so any excess will be eliminated in the urine.
Biotin helps the body better use food for energy. This means that biotin may increase energy levels and, by making the digestive process more efficient, biotin may help people lose weight. This makes biotin an ideal supplement if you are looking to have more energy and lose weight.
Biotin supplements may improve thin, splitting, or brittle toe and fingernails as well as hair health. Biotin has also been used to combat alopecia (partial or complete loss of hair) in both children and adults.
An impressive body of anecdotal evidence exists to suggest that biotin can dramatically improve skin health. If you have dermatitis or eczema, biotin may be an appropriate adjunct to your current skin treatment program.
People with type 2 diabetes often have low levels of biotin. Biotin may be involved in the synthesis and release of insulin. An improved insulin response may reduce your dependency on insulin and improve your overall health. Preliminary studies in both animals and people suggest that biotin may help improve blood sugar control in those with diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes. More research in this area would be helpful.
