Biotin is one of the B complex vitamins that helps your body convert food into energy. This specific B vitamin is said to promote skin, hair, liver, and nervous system health, which is why it remains one of the most popular nutritional supplements.

This article will outline everything you need to know about biotin supplements, how to take them, and what the potential benefits are.

History of Biotin

Originally known as Vitamin H, this water-soluble vitamin was first isolated in experiments involving boiled duck egg yolks. In 1942, its structure was established and it was learned that this nutrient is essential for animals.

Biotin is a coenzyme for carboxylases, which assist the metabolism with fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. This enzyme is beneficial for cellular energy production, the breakdown of fatty acids for energy, and improving digestion.

Should I Take Biotin Supplements?

Most of us get the biotin we need from a healthy, balanced diet. But there is evidence to support the claim that it’s beneficial to take extra biotin. Doing so may help regulate your blood sugar, promote healthy hair, skin, and nails, and even provide support for pregnant moms.

How Much Biotin Should I Take?

Once you’ve found the best biotin supplements, next you will want to figure out the optimal amount to take each day that works for you. This varies from person to person. The recommended amount is typically between 30 and 100 micrograms per day of biotin. It’s water-soluble, meaning excess biotin will just pass through your body.

Biotin for Diabetes

There has been a lot of research surrounding biotin’s impact on diabetes, specifically type 2 diabetes. It’s been found that people with diabetes can benefit from taking biotin supplements since it helps regulate blood glucose levels.

Biotin for Healthy Hair

It’s very rare to be deficient in biotin but the few people who suffer from biotin deficiency have shown signs of hair loss and red rashes on their skin. This has led doctors to believe that biotin has an impact on our hair, skin, and nails. Increasing your biotin intake can potentially improve the health of your hair and skin, which is why biotin is sometimes referred to as a beauty supplement.

Many hair health products include biotin for its benefits and due to it being water-soluble. It is often an ingredient featured in shampoos that promote healthier, thicker hair. When combined with other supplements, biotin can act as an effective means of supporting a healthier head of hair.

A study in 2012 showed that women with thinning hair who used biotin for six months reported an increase in hair volume, thickness, and scalp coverage. The placebo group didn’t see the same changes. When biotin is combined with zinc and iron, it may have a positive impact on your hair health.

Biotin for the Brain

Biotin is required to form the fatty substance known as the myelin sheath that surrounds the nerves and facilitates nerve impulse conduction. If you lack biotin, you may suffer from seizures, a lack of muscle coordination, lethargy, and other neurological symptoms. These conditions can potentially be mitigated or resolved with biotin supplements when the cause is nutritional deficiency.

Biotin for the Immune System

Biotin increases the production of Th1 cytokines, which are essential for creating an immune response to combat bacterial and viral infections. Basically, a lack of biotin can cause adverse effects on immune function, which can lead to serious issues or complications down the road.

If you are wondering what you can do to supplement your immune system in order to stay at peak health - especially during flu season - biotin supplements are certainly one option.

Biotin for Fetal Development

Pregnant women can sometimes become deficient in biotin. This is luckily rare. But biotin is an important nutrient that is directly involved with your baby’s health, so taking supplements like these in the recommended doses can be seen as a positive during pregnancy. Pregnant women can also get natural biotin from eating:

• Egg yolk
• Organs (liver, kidney)
• Nuts (almonds, peanuts, pecans, walnuts)
• Nut butter
• Soybeans
• Whole grains
• Cereals
• Cauliflower
• Bananas
• Mushrooms

How to Take Biotin Supplements

It’s often recommended that you get biotin naturally whenever possible, as with any nutrient. Always talk to your doctor about taking biotin supplements if you feel as though you cannot get the recommended daily amount of biotin through diet alone. Unless you have a health risk, most doctors will give you the green light.

Biotin is known to help mitigate symptoms related these medical conditions:

• Hypoglycemia
• Hyperlipidemia
• Glucose control
• Diabetes

There are no known adverse side effects of biotin when taken as directed. But there are certain rare cases where biotin can cause complications, so you always want to make sure your doctor gives you the go-ahead if you are considered to be at risk.

While studies have been done on biotin supplements, there hasn’t been enough research to prove that taking biotin supplements can improve your health on their own. Always continue to eat a healthy, balanced diet along with taking your usual medication and treatments.

What to Look for in a Biotin Supplement

When it comes to finding the best biotin supplements, you can’t just go online and grab the first supplements you see.

Our biotin capsules are high quality, high purity, contain no binders and are vegetarian and vegan friendly.

Here at Feel Younger, we believe in supplying effective quantities, at reasonable prices. And that’s why a bottle of our Biotin capsules gives you a 10,000 mcg dose and costs a maximum of $15, with larger discounts available for subscriptions of purchases of multiple bottles.

Take one capsule a day with water, preferably 20-30 minutes before a meal, or with a meal, depending on the advice of your healthcare practitioner. You can even add a biotin supplement to your daily smoothie, workout shake, or coffee.

If you have any questions regarding the quality of our biotin supplements or if this nutrient is right for you, please feel free to get in touch with us at support@feelyounger.net.