Most people produce a sufficient amount of biotin via their digestive system to avoid any need for biotin supplements, meaning there’s no essential minimum dose of biotin - only recommended doses.īecause of this, biotin supplementation is usually only necessary if you’ve been diagnosed with a biotin deficiency, or if your diet doesn’t provide an adequate intake of biotin.
However, this is a total biotin intake that includes all sources of biotin, such as common foods and cooking ingredients.īiotin is absorbed from most foods by the microflora of the large intestine. The National Institutes of Health recommends a biotin intake of 20 to 30 micrograms (mcg) per day for teenagers and adults to prevent biotin deficiency.
Biotin Recommended DosageĬurrently, there’s no FDA recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for biotin, meaning there’s no widely accepted recommended daily dose. Biotin deficiency can also contribute to thinning hair, brittle nails and an increased risk of neurological problems, such as depression or hallucinations.
If you’re deficient in biotin, you may notice that you’re more likely to develop visible skin issues, such as scaly or red skin. Some medications, such as anticonvulsants, can also affect biotin production and contribute to biotin deficiency. However, a small percentage of people - in particular, pregnant or breastfeeding women, people who use alcohol frequently, and individuals with biotinidase deficiency - are at risk of developing biotin deficiency. Most people take in sufficient amounts of biotin through their diet. Like many other vitamins, biotin is available as a dietary supplement in products like our Biotin Gummy Vitamins. Your body also relies on biotin for processes such as cell signaling, histone modification and the regulation of your genes. It plays a major role in several important processes within your body, including the production of enzymes that allow you to break down carbohydrates and fats. We’ve also discussed how much biotin you should take daily for ideal hair health, as well as the potential risks, side effects and other issues that could develop if you take an excessive amount of biotin.īiotin, or vitamin B7, is an essential vitamin that’s found in numerous foods, including milk, eggs and bananas.
This lack of concrete information can make it confusing and difficult to work out how to incorporate biotin into your hair care and hair loss prevention routine.īelow, we’ve explained what biotin is, as well as how it plays an important role in the growth of your hair, nails and other parts of your body.
Since biotin is a supplement rather than an FDA-approved medication, there are no guidelines on how much to take each day, although there are recommendations from sources such as the Food and Nutrition Board at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. We’ve discussed much of this in our guide to biotin for hair growth, which looks at the current scientific research on the benefits of biotin supplements and biotin-rich foods. If you’ve ever searched for information about treating hair loss, improving your hair growth and maintaining healthy hair, you may have heard of biotin.īiotin, or vitamin B7, is a water-soluble B vitamin that’s a popular ingredient in hair growth and hair care products.Īlthough biotin isn’t a proven, FDA-approved treatment for preventing male pattern baldness like medications such as finasteride or minoxidil, there’s some scientific evidence that it offers hair growth benefits, particularly in people who are biotin deficient.