Biotin (vitamin B7) is a vitamin found in foods like eggs, milk, and bananas. Biotin deficiency can cause thinning of the hair and a rash on the face.

Biotin is an important part of enzymes in the body that break down substances like fats, carbohydrates, and others. There isn’t a good test for detecting low biotin levels, so it’s usually identified by its symptoms, which include thinning hair and red scaly rash around the eyes, nose, and mouth.

Biotin is used for biotin deficiency. It is also commonly used for hair loss, brittle nails, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Biotin supplements might interfere with some lab tests. Talk with your doctor if you are taking biotin supplements and need to have any blood tests.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

The effectiveness ratings for BIOTIN are as follows:

Likely effective for…

• Biotin deficiency. Taking biotin by mouth or by a shot can treat and prevent low blood levels of biotin. Up to 10 mg of biotin by mouth daily has been used to treat and prevent deficiency. A biotin shot can only be given by a healthcare provider.

Possibly ineffective for…

• Multiple sclerosis (MS). Taking high-dose biotin by mouth does not reduce disability in people with MS. It also doesn’t seem to affect the risk for relapse.
• Rough, scaly skin on the scalp and face (seborrheic dermatitis). Taking biotin does not seem to help improve rash in infants.

There is interest in using biotin for a number of other purposes, but there isn’t enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

When taken by mouth: Biotin is likely safe for most people when taken in doses up to 300 mg daily for up to 6 months. But it is more commonly used in lower doses of 2.5 mg daily.

When applied to the skin: Biotin is likely safe for most people when applied in cosmetic products that contain up to 0.6% biotin.

Special precautions & warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Biotin is likely safe when used in recommended amounts during pregnancy and breast-feeding.

Children: Biotin is likely safe when taken by mouth. It’s been used safely in doses of 5-25 mcg daily.

An inherited condition in which the body cannot process biotin (biotinidase deficiency): People with this condition might have low levels of biotin and may need a biotin supplement.

Kidney dialysis: People receiving kidney dialysis might have low levels of biotin and may need a biotin supplement.

Smoking: People who smoke might have low biotin levels and may need a biotin supplement.

Laboratory tests: Taking biotin supplements might interfere with the results of many different blood lab tests. Biotin can cause falsely high or falsely low test results. This might lead to missed or incorrect diagnoses. Tell your doctor if you are taking biotin supplements, especially if you are having lab tests done. You may need to stop taking biotin before your blood test. Most multivitamins contain low doses of biotin, which are unlikely to interfere with blood tests. But talk to your doctor to be sure.

It is not known if this product interacts with any medicines.

Before taking this product, talk with your health professional if you take any medications.

Alpha-lipoic acid

Taking alpha-lipoic acid and biotin together can reduce the absorption of both alpha-lipoic acid and biotin into the body.

Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)

Taking biotin and vitamin B5 together can reduce the absorption of both biotin and vitamin B5 into the body.

Eating 2 or more uncooked egg whites daily for several months can cause biotin deficiency. Raw egg whites bind to biotin in the stomach and prevent the body from absorbing it.

Small amounts of biotin are found in foods such as eggs, milk, and bananas. It’s recommended that adults consume 30 mcg daily. The same amount should be consumed during pregnancy. When breast-feeding, 35 mcg should be consumed daily. Recommended amounts for children depend on age. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.

Biotina, Biotine, Biotine-D, Coenzyme R, D-Biotin, Vitamin B7, Vitamin H, Vitamine B7, Vitamine H, W Factor, Cis-hexahydro-2-oxo-1H-thieno[3,4-d]-imidazole-4-valeric Acid.

To learn more about how this article was written, please see the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database methodology.

1. Garbers LEFM, Miola AC, Dias PCR, Miot LDB, Miot HA, Schmitt JV. Efficacy of 2.5 mg oral biotin versus 5% topical minoxidil in increasing nail growth rate. Exp Dermatol. 2021 Mar 4. View abstract.
2. Mathais S, Moisset X, Pereira B, et al. Relapses in patients treated with high-dose biotin for progressive multiple sclerosis. Neurotherapeutics. 2020 Sep 22. View abstract.
3. Cree BAC, Cutter G, Wolinsky JS, et al. Safety and efficacy of MD1003 (high-dose biotin) in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (SPI2): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet Neurol. 2020.
4. Li D, Ferguson A, Cervinski MA, Lynch KL, Kyle PB. AACC Guidance Document on Biotin Interference in Laboratory Tests. J Appl Lab Med. 2020;5:575-587. View abstract.
5. Kodani M, Poe A, Drobeniuc J, Mixson-Hayden T. Determination of potential biotin interference on accuracy of results of serologic assays for various viral hepatitis markers. J Med Virol. View abstract.
6. Branger P, Parienti JJ, Derache N, Kassis N, Assouad R, Maillart E, Defer G. Relapses During High-Dose Biotin Treatment in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: a Case-Crossover and Propensity Score-Adjusted Prospective Cohort. Neurotherapeutics. 2020. View abstract.
7. Tourbah A, Lebrun-Frenay C, Edan G, et al. MD1003 (High-Dose Biotin) for the Treatment of Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Mult Scler. 2016;22:1719-1731. View abstract.
8. Juntas-Morales R, Pageot N, Bendarraz A, et al. High-dose pharmaceutical grade biotin (MD1003) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A pilot study. EClinicalMedicine. 2020;19:100254. View abstract.
9. Demas A, Cochin JP, Hardy C, Vaschalde Y, Bourre B, Labauge P. Tardive Reactivation of Progressive Multiple Sclerosis During Treatment with Biotin. Neurol Ther. 2019;9:181-185. View abstract.
10. Couloume L, Barbin L, Leray E, et al. High-dose biotin in progressive multiple sclerosis: A prospective study of 178 patients in routine clinical practice. Mult Scler. 2019:1352458519894713. View abstract.
11. Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 – Cobas. Roche Diagnostics GmbH. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/media/137605/download.
12. Trambas CM, Sikaris KA, Lu ZX. A caution regarding high-dose biotin therapy: misdiagnosis of hyperthyroidism in euthyroid patients. Med J Aust. 2016;205:192. View abstract.
13. Sedel F, Papeix C, Bellanger A, Touitou V, Lebrun-Frenay C, Galanaud D, et al. High doses of biotin in chronic progressive multiple sclerosis: a pilot study.Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2015;4:159-69. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2015.01.005.View abstract.
14. Tabarki B, Alfadhel M, AlShahwan S, Hundallah K, AlShafi S, AlHashem A. Treatment of biotin-responsive basal ganglia disease: open comparative study between the combination of biotin plus thiamine versus thiamine alone. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2015;19:547-52. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2015.05.008. View abstract.
15. The FDA Warns that Biotin May Interfere with Lab Tests: FDA Safety Communication. https://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/ucm586505.htm. Updated November 28, 2017. Accessed November 28, 2017.
16. Biscolla RPM, Chiamolera MI, Kanashiro I, Maciel RMB, Vieira JGH. A Single 10?mg Oral Dose of Biotin Interferes with Thyroid Function Tests. Thyroid 2017;27:1099-1100. View abstract.
17. Piketty ML, Prie D, Sedel F, et al. High-dose biotin therapy leading to false biochemical endocrine profiles: validation of a simple method to overcome biotin interference. Clin Chem Lab Med 2017;55:817-25. View abstract.
18. Trambas CM, Sikaris KA, Lu ZX. More on Biotin Treatment Mimicking Graves’ Disease. N Engl J Med 2016;375:1698. View abstract.
19. Elston MS, Sehgal S, Du Toit S, Yarndley T, Conaglen JV. Factitious Graves’ disease due to biotin immunoassay interference-a case and review of the literature. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2016;101:3251-5. View abstract.
20. Kummer S, Hermsen D, Distelmaier F. Biotin treatment mimicking Graves’ disease. N Engl J Med 2016;375:704-6. View abstract.
21. Barbesino G. Misdiagnosis of Graves’ disease with apparent severe hyperthyroidism in a patient taking biotin megadoses. Thyroid 2016;26:860-3. View abstract.
22. Sulaiman RA. Biotin treatment causing erroneous immunoassay results: A word of caution for clinicians. Drug Discov Ther 2016;10:338-9. View abstract.
23. Bülow Pedersen I, Laurberg P. Biochemical Hyperthyroidism in a Newborn Baby Caused by Assay Interaction from Biotin Intake. Eur Thyroid J 2016;5:212-15. View abstract.
24. Minkovsky A, Lee MN, Dowlatshahi M, et al. High-dose biotin treatment for secondary progressive multiple sclerosis may interfere with thyroid assays. AACE Clin Case Rep 2016;2:e370-e373. View abstract.
25. Oguma S, Ando I, Hirose T, et al. Biotin ameliorates muscle cramps of hemodialysis patients: a prospective trial. Tohoku J Exp Med 2012;227:217-23. View abstract.
26. Waghray A, Milas M, Nyalakonda K, Siperstein AE. Falsely low parathyroid hormone secondary to biotin interference: a case series. Endocr Pract 2013;19:451-5. View abstract.
27. Kwok JS, Chan IH, Chan MH. Biotin interference on TSH and free thyroid hormone measurement. Pathology. 2012;44:278-80. View abstract.
28. Vadlapudi AD, Vadlapatla RK, Mitra AK. Sodium dependent multivitamin transporter (SMVT): a potential target for drug delivery. Curr Drug Targets 2012;13:994-1003. View abstract.
29. Pacheco-Alvarez D, Solórzano-Vargas RS, Del Río AL. Biotin in Metabolism and Its Relationship to Human Disease. Arch Med Res 2002;33:439-47. View abstract.
30. Sydenstricker, V. P., Singal, S. A., Briggs, A. P., Devaughn, N. M., and Isbell, H. Observations on the “egg white injury” in man and its cure with biotin concentrate. J Am Med Assn 1942;:199-200.
31. Ozand, P. T., Gascon, G. G., Al Essa, M., Joshi, S., Al Jishi, E., Bakheet, S., Al Watban, J., Al Kawi, M. Z., and Dabbagh, O. Biotin-responsive basal ganglia disease: a novel entity. Brain 1998;121 ( Pt 7):1267-1279. View abstract.
32. Wallace, J. C., Jitrapakdee, S., and Chapman-Smith, A. Pyruvate carboxylase. Int J Biochem.Cell Biol. 1998;30:1-5. View abstract.
33. Zempleni, J., Green, G. M., Spannagel, A. W., and Mock, D. M. Biliary excretion of biotin and biotin metabolites is quantitatively minor in rats and pigs. J Nutr. 1997;127:1496-1500. View abstract.
34. Zempleni, J., McCormick, D. B., and Mock, D. M. Identification of biotin sulfone, bisnorbiotin methyl ketone, and tetranorbiotin-l-sulfoxide in human urine. Am.J Clin.Nutr. 1997;65:508-511. View abstract.
35. van der Knaap, M. S., Jakobs, C., and Valk, J. Magnetic resonance imaging in lactic acidosis. J Inherit.Metab Dis. 1996;19:535-547. View abstract.
36. Shriver, B. J., Roman-Shriver, C., and Allred, J. B. Depletion and repletion of biotinyl enzymes in liver of biotin-deficient rats: evidence of a biotin storage system. J Nutr. 1993;123:1140-1149. View abstract.
37. McMurray, D. N. Cell-mediated immunity in nutritional deficiency. Prog.Food Nutr.Sci 1984;8(3-4):193-228. View abstract.
38. Ammann, A. J. New insight into the causes of immunodeficiency disorders. J Am.Acad.Dermatol. 1984;11(4 Pt 1):653-660. View abstract.
39. Petrelli, F., Moretti, P., and Paparelli, M. Intracellular distribution of biotin-14COOH in rat liver. Mol.Biol.Rep. 2-15-1979;4:247-252. View abstract.
40. Zlotkin, S. H., Stallings, V. A., and Pencharz, P. B. Total parenteral nutrition in children. Pediatr.Clin.North Am. 1985;32:381-400. View abstract.
41. Bowman, B. B., Selhub, J., and Rosenberg, I. H. Intestinal absorption of biotin in the rat. J Nutr. 1986;116:1266-1271. View abstract.
42. Magnuson, N. S. and Perryman, L. E. Metabolic defects in severe combined immunodeficiency in man and animals. Comp Biochem.Physiol B 1986;83:701-710. View abstract.
43. Nyhan, W. L. Inborn errors of biotin metabolism. Arch.Dermatol. 1987;123:1696-1698a. View abstract.
44. Sweetman, L. and Nyhan, W. L. Inheritable biotin-treatable disorders and associated phenomena. Annu.Rev.Nutr. 1986;6:317-343. View abstract.
45. Brenner, S. and Horwitz, C. Possible nutrient mediators in psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. II. Nutrient mediators: essential fatty acids; vitamins A, E and D; vitamins B1, B2, B6, niacin and biotin; vitamin C selenium; zinc; iron. World Rev.Nutr.Diet. 1988;55:165-182. View abstract.
46. Miller, S. J. Nutritional deficiency and the skin. J Am.Acad.Dermatol. 1989;21:1-30. View abstract.
47. Michalski, A. J., Berry, G. T., and Segal, S. Holocarboxylase synthetase deficiency: 9-year follow-up of a patient on chronic biotin therapy and a review of the literature. J Inherit.Metab Dis. 1989;12:312-316. View abstract.
48. Colombo, V. E., Gerber, F., Bronhofer, M., and Floersheim, G. L. Treatment of brittle fingernails and onychoschizia with biotin: scanning electron microscopy. J Am.Acad.Dermatol. 1990;23(6 Pt 1):1127-1132. View abstract.
49. Daniells, S. and Hardy, G. Hair loss in long-term or home parenteral nutrition: are micronutrient deficiencies to blame? Curr.Opin.Clin.Nutr.Metab Care 2010;13:690-697. View abstract.
50. Wolf, B. Clinical issues and frequent questions about biotinidase deficiency. Mol.Genet.Metab 2010;100:6-13. View abstract.
51. Zempleni, J., Hassan, Y. I., and Wijeratne, S. S. Biotin and biotinidase deficiency. Expert.Rev.Endocrinol.Metab 11-1-2008;3:715-724. View abstract.
52. Tsao, C. Y. Current trends in the treatment of infantile spasms. Neuropsychiatr.Dis.Treat. 2009;5:289-299. View abstract.
53. Sedel, F., Lyon-Caen, O., and Saudubray, J. M. [Treatable hereditary neuro-metabolic diseases]. Rev.Neurol.(Paris) 2007;163:884-896. View abstract.
54. Sydenstricker, V. P., Singal, S. A., Briggs, A. P., Devaughn, N. M., and Isbell, H. PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON “EGG WHITE INJURY” IN MAN AND ITS CURE WITH A BIOTIN CONCENTRATE. Science 2-13-1942;95:176-177. View abstract.
55. Scheinfeld, N., Dahdah, M. J., and Scher, R. Vitamins and minerals: their role in nail health and disease. J Drugs Dermatol. 2007;6:782-787.