Biotin and Obesity

Biotin is needed in many metabolic functions. One of its primary roles is to assist in the synthesis of fatty acids. In specific animal studies, scientists noted that being deficient in a biotin-dependent enzyme helped lab animals burn fat and maintain a low body weight regardless of eating habits. One day, biotin might be instrumental to new obesity treatments.

About Biotin

Biotin is one of the eight water-soluble vitamins that make up the B complex. Like all B vitamins, it's found naturally in animal products, such as liver, kidney and egg yolk. However, biotin is also manufactured in your intestines by bacteria. One of its functions is helping to release energy from the carbohydrates you eat.

Biotin and Fatty Acid Synthesis

Another of biotin's functions --- as a coenzyme --- may one day help create a new treatment for obesity and related issues such as diabetes and cholesterol. Biotin works with another enzyme, known as acetyl-CoA, or ACC, which regulates the creation of fatty acids. Acetyl-CoA can't do its work without biotin. In addition, this enzyme has another form known as ACC2. Columbia University researchers reported that mice lacking ACC2 burn fat at a higher rate. They have less overall body fat and weigh less too. Baylor College of Medicine researchers writing in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" confirmed this association --- even when ACC2-deficient mice eat more. In the Baylor study, the mutant mice ate high-fat and high-carbohydrate meals and still weighed less than their counterparts. Fed the same diet, mice with ACC2 became obese and diabetic. Researchers surmised that inhibiting ACC, implicating biotin, could prove useful in treating obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Biotin and Obesity-Related Diseases

Biotin has proven helpful in getting blood sugar under control among obese people with diabetes. A group of researchers reporting in the January 2008 "Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews" said when biotin was coupled with chromium picolinate, people in the study experienced significant improvements in their condition. In addition, those whose blood sugar had been the most poorly controlled experienced the greatest benefit from this combination. This therapy, with 2 mg of biotin and 600 mcg of chromium picolinate, could prove cost effective when compared with other anti-diabetes drugs, the researchers concluded. The Linus Pauling Institute reports supplementing with biotin alone in higher doses also significantly reduced fasting glucose levels in other investigations. Other research dating back to the mid-1970s demonstrated that biotin status --- whether normal or deficient --- was inversely related to blood fats such as cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids. Although vitamin deficiencies are rare in the United States, improving biotin levels is generally associated with lower blood lipids.

Biotin Intake

As of 2011, biotin is not a mainstream component of obesity treatment. Consult your doctor or dietitian before beginning a biotin regimen with hopes of losing weight, improving fat burning, improving your blood sugar and lowering your cholesterol. Most adults need about 30 mcg of biotin daily, according to the Institute of Medicine. In addition to animal products, Swiss chard, carrots, almonds and halibut are good sources of biotin.