A bit of background on biotin
Part of the vitamin B family, biotin is also known as vitamin B7.1 Biotin helps the body to make fatty acids and maintain healthy hair, skin and nails.1-4
Like the rest of the
B vitamins, biotin is water soluble.
1,2 A
water-soluble vitamin is a vitamin that dissolves in water.
5 This means that when it enters the body, it dissolves – and because of this, we can’t store excess amounts for later use.
5 Any excess amounts are usually flushed out in your urine rather than kept around.
6
Because water-soluble vitamins aren’t stored for long, your levels need to be replenished regularly through your diet. Think of them as the ‘use it or lose it’ nutrients!
The good news is that biotin deficiency is rare and biotin is found in lots of different foods as well as being made by the bacteria in our gut.3,6 Plus, the vast majority of people can get enough of this essential nutrient from their diet, as it occurs naturally in a wide variety of foods, such as:2-4
- organ meats
- fruits and vegetables (in small amounts)
- fish
- soybeans
- eggs
- nuts
- oysters
- seeds
So, if it’s relatively rare to have a biotin deficiency, what are the benefits of taking a biotin supplement?