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Home > Vitamins and Herbs > Biotin
 
Biotin
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Biotin
Biotin, also known as vitamin H or B7 and C10H16N2O3S (Biotin; Coenzyme R, Biopeiderm), is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin which is composed of an ureido (tetrahydroimidizalone) ring fused with a tetrahydrothiophene ring. A valeric acid substituent is attached to one of the carbon atoms of the tetrahydrothiophene ring. Biotin is important in the catalysis of essential metabolic reactions to synthesize fatty acids, in gluconeogenesis, and to metabolize leucine.
Biotin is used in cell growth, the production of fatty acids, metabolism of fats, and amino acids. It plays a role in the Krebs Cycle, which is the process in which energy is released from food. Biotin not only assists in various metabolic chemical conversions, but also helps with the transfer of carbon dioxide. Biotin is also helpful in maintaining a steady blood sugar level. Biotin is often recommended for strengthening hair and nails. Consequently, it is found in many cosmetic and health products for the hair and skin.
Deficiency is extremely rare, save in cases where people have ingested large amounts of raw egg white over long periods of time, as intestinal bacteria generally produce in excess of the body's daily requirement. For that reason, statutory agencies in many countries (e.g., the Australian Department of Health and Aging) do not prescribe a recommended daily intake.
Biotin supplements are often recommended as a natural product to counteract the problem of hair loss in both children and adults. There are, however, no studies that show any benefit in any case where the subject is not actually biotin deficient. The signs and symptoms of biotin deficiency include hair loss which progresses in severity to include loss of eye lashes and eye brows in severely deficient subjects. Some shampoos are available that contain biotin, but it is doubtful whether they would have any useful effect, as biotin is not absorbed well through the skin.
Cradle cap (seborrheic dermatitis)
Children with a rare inherited metabolic disorder called phenylketonuria (PKU; in which one is unable to break down the amino acid phenylalanine) often develop skin conditions such as eczema and seborrheic dermatitis in areas of the body other than the scalp. The scaly skin changes that occur in people with PKU may be related to poor ability to use biotin. Increasing dietary biotin in the diet has been known to improve seborrheic dermatitis in these cases.
Diabetes
People with type 2 diabetes often have low levels of biotin. Biotin may be involved in the synthesis and release of insulin. Preliminary studies in both animals and people suggest that biotin may help improve blood sugar control in those with diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes. [citation needed]
Biotin deficiency
Biotin deficiency is a rare nutritional disorder caused by a deficiency of biotin. Biotin deficiency can have a very serious, even fatal, outcome if it is allowed to progress without treatment. Signs and symptoms of biotin deficiency can develop in persons of any age, race, or gender. Biotin deficiency rarely occurs in healthy individuals, since the daily requirements of biotin are low, many foods contain adequate amounts, intestinal bacteria synthesize small amounts, and the body effectively scavenges and recycles biotin from bodily waste. However, deficiency can be caused by excessive consumption of raw egg-whites over a long period (months to years). Egg-whites contain high levels of avidin, a protein that binds biotin stongly. Once a biotin-avidin complex forms, the bond is essentially irreversible. The biotin-avidin complex is not broken down nor liberated during digestion, and the biotin-avidin complex is lost in the feces. Once cooked, the egg-white avidin becomes denatured and entirely non-toxic.
Initial symptoms of biotin deficiency include:
Hiar Loss
Dry skin
Seborrheic dermatitis
Fungal infections
Rashes including erythematous periorofacial macular rash
Fine and brittle hair
Hair loss or total alopecia
If left untreated, neurological symptoms can develop, including:
Mild depression, which may progress to profound lassitude and, eventually, to somnolence
Changes in mental status
Generalized muscular pains (myalgias)
Hyperesthesias and paresthesias
The treatment for biotin deficiency is to simply start taking some biotin supplements.
Biochemistry
Biotin is a cofactor responsible for carbon dioxide transfer in several carboxylase enzymes:
Acetyl-CoA carboxylase
Methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase
Propionyl-CoA carboxylase
Pyruvate carboxylase
The attachment of biotin to various proteins, called biotinylation, is an important process in DNA transcription and replication.
Biotin binds very tightly to the tetrameric protein streptavidin, with a dissociation constant Kd in the order of 10-14 mol/L. This is often used in different biotechological applications. Until 2005, very harsh conditions were required to break the biotin-streptavidin bond (Holmberg et al, 2005).
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