Getting enough biotin is necessary to help your body process sugars and fats so you'll have enough energy, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Biotin, which is part of the B complex family of vitamins, is often suggested to make your nails and hair stronger, which is why it's an ingredient in many dietary supplements and cosmetics. However, while preliminary research suggests that biotin is helpful for this purpose and other health conditions, the UMMC notes that more clinical studies are needed to confirm findings.
Deficiency Correction
According to the National Institutes of Health, research most strongly supports biotin as a treatment for certain deficiencies. These may be caused by taking anti-seizure drugs or antibiotics or eating raw egg whites for a long time. Biotin deficiency can also be caused by medical conditions such as short gut syndrome, or as a result of intravenous feeding. Multiple carboxylase deficiency, which affects the metabolism, can also cause biotin deficiency. The NIH indicates that large amounts of biotin may be required to treat this latter disorder, under the care of a physician.
Hair and Nails Benefits
Another suggested use for biotin is to address brittle, splitting nails and hair. Although preliminary evidence suggests that biotin can be helpful for this purpose, the NIH indicates that there's not conclusive evidence confirming specific benefits. When used in conjunction with zinc and topical clobetasol propionate, biotin may be used for hair loss in people of all ages, states the UMMC.
Diabetes and Related Conditions
When combined with chromium, biotin could be helpful for keeping blood sugar levels under control in people with Type 2 diabetes, according to the UMMC. It may also be beneficial for reducing symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, a condition that causes numbness, pain and tingling in the extremities--often a result of diabetes, or sometimes due to kidney failure. However, more research is needed to determine if biotin is helpful for these purposes.
Other Conditions
Biotin, along with other supplements, is also suggested for use as an antioxidant therapy for alcoholics who develop hepatitis, states the NIH, as well as for mild biotin deficiency in pregnant women. Biotin is usually not included in prenatal vitamins, and doctors don't typically advise using biotin supplements during pregnancy, according to the NIH. Again, more research is needed to ascertain if biotin is helpful for these purposes.
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