Biotin Deficiency and Hair Loss





Biotin, also known as vitamin H, or vitamin B7, belongs to the family of tremendously important for sustaining health, water-soluble B-vitamins. In addition to being involved in maintaining efficient carbohydrate and fat metabolism, biotin is a factor in supporting the health of our hair, nails, and skin. Hair fall or shedding, alopecia areata, scalp dermatitis, premature greying of hair, impaired hair growth, fragile hair, split ends, and other hair and scalp problems can be directly caused by a lack of vitamin B7.


Biotin facilitates the growth of cell membranes, participates in the production of glucose, amino acids and fatty acids, and helps the body produce energy during exercise and other types of daily activities. This essential B-vitamin helps us maintain a steady level of blood sugar and assists in weight loss. The strength of hair, smoothness of skin, and health of nails depend on an adequate supply and availability of biotin to skin and scalp tissues and hair follicles. Insufficient levels of biotin can lead to the development of severe dandruff, fungal and bacterial infections of the scalp, nails, and skin, massive hair loss, and a whole host of metabolic problems.

Although it is believed that biotin deficiencies are extremely rare, since this vitamin is largely produced by intestinal bacteria, a lack of biotin can be more widely spread than it was previously suspected. Many Americans, and particularly those who heavily rely on processed foods and frequently take antibiotics, suffer from disbacteriosis, or a lack of friendly bacteria in the intestinal tract. In addition, some researchers insists that our body is unable to use most of the B-vitamins manufactured in the lower segments of the digestive tract, because the absorption of nutrients is carried out in upper parts of the small intestine. Therefore, to avoid deficiencies in biotin and other important microelements, it is every important to ensure that you eat enough foods containing large amounts of B-family vitamins.

Biotin is found in a wide variety of different foods, but only in small amounts. The richest source of easily absorbable biotin is brewer’s yeast. It is also present at large concentrations in royal jelly. Other foods, such as egg yolks, bananas, beef liver, fresh milk, wholemeal breads, oysters, fish and cauliflower, contain less biotin, but still can be considered as a good dietary supply. In smaller amounts, vitamin B7 can be found in nuts, muscle meats, beans and legumes, chocolate, and molasses. Eating a balanced, unrefined diet should ensure that your intake of biotin is adequate – at least 30 mcg a day, according to the recommendations of the US Department of Agriculture.

It should be taken into consideration that some foods, such as raw egg whites, can interfere with biotin absorption. Also, biotin is largely destroyed by pasteurization, processing, and especially cooking under high temperatures. It is estimated that up to 38% of the B vitamins can be destroyed by short-term heating, and even more so during commercial processing and prolonged cooking. Therefore, it is essential to regularly include some raw foods into your menu, be it raw milk, Japanese-style raw fish (sashimi), rare steaks, or a variety of uncooked fruits and vegetables. Other factors that can suppress the absorption or intestinal production of biotin are the use of antibiotics, anti-seizure drugs, and other pharmaceutical medications. People who consume large amounts of alcoholic drinks, senior citizens, performance athletes, type 2 diabetics, and epileptic patients are often found deficient in biotin, as well. The need for this vitamin is increased during pregnancy and lactation. It has been noted that women whose pregnancy diets were poor in the vitamin B complex tended to suffer from postpartum depression and excessive hair loss after childbirth. Smoking, and particularly heavy smoking in women, further diminishes the body reserves of biotin.

An acute deficiency of vitamin B7 can lead to the development of various conditions, among which is hair loss. A lack of biotin is associated with depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, a variety of neurological symptoms, unhealthy weight gain, disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, nausea, fibromyalgia, lethargy, PMS, psoriasis and various other skin lesions, fungal infections, suppressed immunity, and anaemia. Deficiency symptoms can be treated with vitamin supplementation, although synthetic vitamins are in no way as metabolically effective and safe as vitamins naturally occurring in fresh foods. Biotin is routinely included into various shampoos, hair conditioners, and topical treatments for hair loss. It is also a part of standard vitamin pills.

Vitamin H supplementation, either from foods sources or laboratory-produced pills, is proven effective in managing a number of skin, hair, and nail diseases. It improves hair loss, scalp eczema, sebhorrheic dermatitis, weak and fragile hair, split ends, and damaged hair follicles. In babies, supplemented biotin is effective in treating infant scalp dermatitis and various eczemas. Several studies have shown that vitamin B7 can successfully treat alopecia areata, or patchy hair loss observed in both young people and middle-aged adults. Even in some cases of alopecia totala, or a complete loss of hair everywhere on the body, biotin supplementation has shown promising results.

Robin Makris

Phentramine

Related Posts


Posted on May 3, 2008 
Filed Under Hair Loss, Hair Loss Reasons, Hair Loss Treatments

Comments

3 Responses to “Biotin Deficiency and Hair Loss”

  1. Camilo rodriguez on June 8th, 2008 5:58 am

    i`ve been drinking Biotin 800 mcg, for my hair loss, but i have one question, is it bad for me to drink any alcoholic drinks while taking the vitamin b?

  2. superlada on June 11th, 2008 2:39 am

    Recent research shows that moderate alcohol consumption, especially of traditional fermented drinks such as red wines or sake, is not associated with adverse health effects. A glass or two of good-quality wine a day can even contribute to your overall health.

    However, be aware that taking isolated vitamins in a pill form can cause vitamin imbalances. Too much supplemented biotin can cause defiances in other B-group vitamins. Therefore, it is always a better strategy to derive your vitamins from whole, nutrient-dense foods, rather than from vitamin supplements.

    Author

  3. stina on October 27th, 2009 10:41 pm

    I smoke cigs. What affects can I have while smoking and taking Biotin?

Leave a Reply