Biotin, or vitamin B7, is part of the B-complex group of vitamins, although some people call it vitamin H. This vitamin occurs in many foods. Requirements are small for most people, and the body recycles much of the biotin it has already used. Thus, biotin deficiency is extremely rare, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health at its MedlinePlus website. Nevertheless, some people may benefit from taking biotin tablets.
Biotin Deficiency
Certain health conditions and treatments can cause biotin deficiency, according to MedlinePlus. Using antibiotics or anti-seizure medications on a long-term basis may lead to this problem. Intravenous feeding without added biotin can cause a deficiency, as can a condition called intestinal malabsorption. Eating raw egg whites on a regular basis also can result in biotin deficiency, because the protein avidin in raw egg white prevents biotin absorption. A biotin deficiency can have many symptoms, including hair loss, dry eyes, dry skin, facial and genital rash, swollen and discolored tongue, depression, lethargy, hallucinations and numb and tingling sensations. Taking biotin supplements can prevent or resolve biotin deficiency.
Benefits for Diabetics
Early research indicates that biotin reduces insulin resistance and enhances glucose tolerance, which could benefit people with type 2 diabetes, according to MedlinePlus. Supplementing with both biotin and the mineral chromium may also have benefits for diabetic patients, including improving blood sugar regulation, reducing cholesterol and triglyceride levels and reducing the risk of clogged arteries. Research is conflicting and more studies with humans are needed, notes MedlinePlus.
Peripheral Neuropathy Symptom Relief
Biotin tablets may improve symptoms of peripheral neuropathy in patients who develop the condition due to diabetes or regular dialysis for kidney failure, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. This disorder causes numbness, tingling, weakness or other abnormal sensations in the feet, and sometimes in the hands, due to nerve damage.
Pregnancy Benefits
Biotin is important for normal embryonic growth, and a deficiency during pregnancy might cause birth defects, according to the Linus Pauling Institute, or LPI, at Oregon State University. A slight biotin deficiency is common in pregnant women, notes MedlinePlus. Although most prenatal vitamins do not contain biotin, MedlinePlus says health care providers could consider biotin supplementation for pregnant women on a case-by-case basis.
Cradle Cap Treatment
Babies who are deficient in biotin often develop seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp, called "cradle cap" when it occurs in this age group, according to the UMMC. Preliminary research indicates that biotin supplementation can improve this condition.
Nail Strengthening
Biotin appears to strengthen nails and alleviate brittle and splitting nails, according to the LPI. The LPI cites a study in which scanning electron microscopy determined that fingernail thickness increased by 25 percent after biotin supplementation.
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