What is biotin good for

However, you should always check with your doctor before adding a new supplement to your routine. Your doctor can also provide more individual information about dosage and potential side effects. Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin, so any extra biotin in your body will flush out through your urine.

This makes a potential overdose unlikely. If you develop an unusual or unexpected skin rash after increasing your biotin intake, see your doctor immediately. In rare cases, this is a sign of biotin overdose. For best results, you should be consistent in your intake. Although research is limited, studies from and suggest that results may be seen in as little as 90 days. This includes an increase in growth and shine. Learn about more ways to make your hair grow faster.

You may already be getting the biotin you need through your diet, so talk with your doctor about the best option for you. They may recommend certain dietary changes or a biotin supplement.

Be sure to follow any dosage guidelines that they provide. If you begin having any unusual symptoms while taking a biotin supplement, discontinue use and see your doctor immediately.

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Learn how biotin stacks up. There's only anecdotal proof that you can use castor oil for hair growth. Options are limited for how to make facial hair grow, but there are some factors to keep in mind.

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The diet can play an important role in the health of the skin and hair. For instance, some foods for healthy hair include eggs, Brazil nuts, and fatty fish. Many hair products that claim to encourage healthier, stronger hair contain biotin. Biotin deficiency can lead to hair loss , which indicates that the vitamin is involved in keeping the hair healthy.

However, little research has linked the vitamin with hair health in people who do not have biotin deficiencies. Healthcare professionals believe that this deficiency is common among pregnant women because the body breaks down the vitamin faster during pregnancy. As a result, a pregnant woman may need more biotin — from the diet or from supplements — than a woman who is not pregnant. That said, it is important to consult a healthcare professional before taking supplements during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic condition characterized by high blood sugar levels and impaired insulin function. A biotin deficiency may disrupt blood sugar, or glucose, regulation. Some evidence shows blood biotin levels may be lower in people with diabetes.

Studies in animals have suggested that supplements containing biotin and chromium picolinate could prevent insulin resistance. Researchers have also studied how biotin supplements affect blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. The results have been mixed, but some studies have shown that taking both biotin and chromium picolinate could help treat type 2 diabetes. Overall, fully understanding the effects of biotin on diabetes and blood sugar control will require more high quality research.

However, people with biotin deficiencies may experience skin problems, including red, scaly rashes. Some people also believe that biotin may help improve psoriasis. This process is important for maintaining healthy skin, and it may be impaired in people with low levels of biotin. It is important to note that no evidence shows that biotin improves skin health in people who do not have a deficiency of the vitamin. Multiple sclerosis MS is an autoimmune disease.

It damages the protective covering of nerve fibers in the brain, spinal cord, and eyes. This protective covering is called myelin, and biotin may play an important role in producing it. Studies have shown that people with MS respond positively to daily biotin doses of up to milligrams mg. This supplementation may reverse the progression of the disease and reduce chronic disability.

Read more about biotin as a part of MS treatment. This vitamin also has a key role in alleviating muscle and joint inflammation, aches, and pains. If you continually experience joint pain or struggle with muscle strength, a biotin supplement might be just what you need to help your tissues rebuild. In addition to making you look great, biotin also helps with some of your body's most essential functions. One of vitamin H's primary roles is to regulate the formation of DNA.

This ensures that the genetic information in each cell works properly and replicates correctly. Though strong cell development is always important, it's especially critical when your cells are dividing rapidly, such as during pregnancy.

Keep in mind that biotin supplements provide you with an ample supply of this water-soluble vitamin. Once it travels through your bloodstream, however, your body eliminates any excess biotin. That means your body never builds up a toxic reserve of this vitamin, and overconsuming it is nearly impossible. Since biotin is necessary for many bodily functions, it's especially important for pregnant women supporting a new life. In fact, a recent study shows that many pregnant women don't receive enough biotin naturally on a daily basis.

Since this has led to serious birth defects, many doctors recommend that pregnant women supplement their regular healthy diets with additional biotin. For many pregnant women, taking additional biotin is as important as taking folic acid for ensuring baby health, encouraging fetal development, and minimizing pregnancy complications.

In some cases, new mothers don't provide enough biotin in their breast milk, leading to a biotin deficiency in their babies. Young children with allergies to or a distaste for foods high in biotin are also at risk of developing a deficiency. A biotin supplement can easily remedy low levels of biotin in new mothers, babies, and children. Expecting and new mothers should talk with a physician before taking a biotin supplement while pregnant or nursing or before giving biotin to babies and children.

Along with the other B complex vitamins, biotin keeps your nervous system in working order by assisting with neurotransmitter activity and helping with nerve signals. Together, B vitamins also protect your brain, improve your memory, and help form a defense against cognitive issues and neurodegenerative disorders. Along with preventing dementia and Alzheimer's disease, biotin and the other B vitamins can help you better your concentration and keep a positive outlook.

One of the most beneficial ways biotin can affect people is by stabilizing blood sugar. For diabetics or those who struggle with maintaining a healthy blood sugar level, biotin can be particularly helpful. Studies have shown that this B complex vitamin has the power to lower blood glucose levels in people with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes by stimulating the secretion of insulin. Some diabetics also suffer from nerve damage due to enzyme buildup.

Since biotin is necessary for certain enzyme activity, low levels of this vitamin can lead to dangerous levels of buildup. A biotin supplement can get enzyme activity back on track and help some diabetics prevent additional nerve damage. One of biotin's primary functions is its ability to metabolize carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

This vitamin also functions as a coenzyme and aids in synthesizing fatty acids and certain amino acids. Without the B complex vitamins, your body can't use the energy that your body consumes. Since biotin and the other B vitamins play a big part in converting nutrients into fuel that your body can access, a lack of biotin can cause you to feel a serious slump in energy. In fact, it can also lead to feelings of fatigue, mood swings, and even digestive issues.

If you don't receive a steady supply of biotin from your daily diet, a supplement can help you harness the energy you're missing and help you get your mood back on a positive track.