Biotin, also known as vitamin H, is a B-complex vitamin that helps the body metabolize fat and protein and helps transport carbon and oxygen between cells. Biotin is found in small amounts in a variety of foods and is available as a supplement. Manufacturers of biotin supplements claim biotin supplements are helpful during pregnancy, malnutrition, long-term tube feeding, mild depression, diabetes, rapid weight loss and skin rash.
Food Sources
Eggs, liver, brewer's yeast, sardines, nuts and soybeans are dietary sources of biotin. However, biotin supplements are available in 10, 50 and 100 mcg tablets containing either simple biotin or a mixture of biotin and brewer's yeast. Biotin supplements have proven effective for treating and preventing biotin deficiency but may be ineffective for treating diabetes, rash and other maladies that manufacturers claim biotin cures.
Drug and Food Interactions
Biotin supplements can interact with your medication and food. Long-term antibiotic use may decrease biotin efficacy. Anti-convulsants may reduce the body's natural supply of biotin. However, there are no known interactions between biotin and herbs, supplements or other medications besides antibiotics. However, consult with your doctor before taking biotin supplements.
Recommended Adequate Intake
The appropriate dose of biotin varies depending on your age, health and any medical conditions, such as pregnancy. There is little scientific information available to determine the appropriate range of doses for biotin, so no recommended dietary allowance has been established. However, recommended adequate intake levels range from 7 mcg for infants to 30 mcg for adults over age 18 and pregnant women.
Toxicity
Toxicity can occur when you consume too much of any vitamin. Biotin toxicity is extremely rare. Even in doses hundreds of times high than the recommended adequate intake -- up to 200,000 mcg per day -- toxicity does not occur. One study cited by the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University covered the case of an elderly woman who took 10,000 mcg per day of biotin and suffered from a pleuropericardial effusion, or lung complications. However, this case was an isolated incident.
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