Biotin information
Biotin is part of the B complex family but it is not categorized as a vitamin. It is actually a co-enzyme which functions together with vitamins. Biotin is also referred to as coenzyme R or vitamin H and, it was first discovered and unveiled in 1936.
It was soluble in water but the only problem is that it was unstable; you can easily destroy Biotin through heating, cooking, soaking, exposure to light, as well as prolonged contact with baking soda, water, or other alkaline compounds. The body of human beings get biotin from consumed food and can also manufacture the nutrient from bacteria in the gut.
General use
Every cell in the body uses Biotin and contributes not only to the health of your skin, but also bone marrow, hair, sex glands, nerves, and as well as the sebaceous glands. Apart from being a crucial element to various enzymes, biotin plays a major role in carbohydrate metabolism and in the breakdown of fatty acids.
In addition, it is used in the conversion of amino acids into protein. Biotin plays a key role in growth and division of cells through its role in the manufacture of both DNA and RNA, the key genetic ingredients of cells.
Preparations
Adults are supposed to take up to 30mcg of the nutrient in a day. However, it is supposed to be 35 mcg for women who are nursing. Supplementation is between 100 and 600 mcg in a day, and you can obtain it in form of brewer’s yeast, which contains biotin.
Precautions
Your body uses biotin on a daily basis since it is not stored to any great extent. During pregnancy and lactation, the biotin intake increases. In 2002, a study clearly showed the need for supplemental biotin during pregnancy.
More than 50 percent women are deficient in biotin, which could lead to birth defects. Medical researchers advise that biotin must be included in prenatal multivitamin formulas.
Mild deficiency
Because it is manufactured in the gut, it is rare to see the signs of biotin deficiency. However they may include grayish skin, weakness, eczema, lethargy, color, hair loss, cradle cap in small babies, muscle aches, difficulty in digesting fats, depression, nausea, , loss of appetite, insomnia, high cholesterol levels, inflammation in the eyes, sensitivity to touch, anemia as well as tingling in your hands and also feet. The above reasons are why it is important to maintain the appropriate amount of biotin to ensure proper hair and beard growth along with overall health.
Extreme deficiency
Some of the top signs of biotin deficiency is elevation of cholesterol levels, heart disease, as well as paralysis. When the deficiency is in extreme levels, the liver is not able detoxify the body efficiently, and your depression may eventually turn into hallucinations. Little babies may show lack of muscle tone and developmental delay.
Biotin deficiency could also lead to loss of immune function, since a lot of medical experiments have indicated that biotin deficiency led to a decrease in white blood-cell function. Because biotin is critical to metabolic functions, any deficiency could cause an impaired metabolism as well. Please consult your physician if you feel you may need more information on Biotin.
