Biotin & Methionine

Biotin is a B-complex, water-soluble vitamin and methionine is one of the nine essential amino acids. They perform many unique and separate functions, making both biotin and methionine necessary for survival. While they are both very different, they are connected by the enzyme propionyl-CoA carboxylase.

Sources of Biotin and Methionine

Biotin can be created from simpler molecules by bacteria, yeast, molds, algae and some plant species. Biotin is also found in more typical foods; however, the total content of this vitamin is low when compared to the other water-soluble vitamins. Foods rich in biotin include egg yolk, liver, avocado and salmon. As an amino acid methionine can be found in all animal products, such as cheese, eggs, chicken, and beef. Non-animal products that contain this vitamin include brown rice, soybeans, peanut butter and oats.

Deficiency in Biotin

The adequate intake, a reading often rendered as AI, for biotin is 30 micrograms per day. Deficiency is common for people consuming raw egg whites, people on dialysis, alcoholics and also among those with gastrointestinal diseases. Symptoms include thinning hair, progressing to total hair loss; a scaly, red rash; an unusual distribution of facial fat; depression; lethargy; hallucination; and paresthesias of the extremities.

Deficiency in Methionine

The recommended dietary allowance for methionine is 3mg/kg/day. To calculate this value, divide your weight in pounds by 2.2 to find your weight in kilograms. Then multiply your weight in kilograms by 3 to attain the quantity, in milligrams, that you should be consuming of methionine per day. Symptoms of deficiency include fatty liver, slow growth, weakness, fluid retention and skin lesions. If the deficiency is severe dementialike symptoms may ensue.

Biotin Affects Methionine

The enzyme propionyl-CoA carboxylase requires biotin to function. This enzyme is important for the breakdown of various lipids, cholesterol and multiple amino acids. Methionine is one of the amino acids that propionyl-CoA carboxylase breaks down. This breakdown enables methionine to be utilized for the creation of energy, but only when adequate quantities of biotin have been consumed.

Functions of Biotin and Methionine

Methionine is needed for the creation of proteins. It functions as the start signal for their synthesis and is also a component of all the proteins within the human body. Biotin functions as a cofactor for five carboxylase enzymes, including propionyl-CoA carboxylase. These enzymes function in the breakdown of amino acids, the creation of glucose and the creation of fatty acids. Consequently, biotin and methionine must be consumed in adequate amounts.