Biotin (Vitamin B7)

Biotin is an essential B vitamin used as an enzymatic cofactor. Extremely popular as a 'beauty supplement' for hair, skin, and nails, but clinical evidence for these uses is WEAK. D-GRADE for most outcomes including MS symptoms (4 RCTs, 360 participants, no effect) and blood glucose. One uncontrolled study suggested nail quality improvement, but this is not robust evidence. CRITICAL LAB WARNING: High-dose biotin interferes with many immunoassays causing false thyroid/troponin/hormone results - can lead to misdiagnosis. RDI is only 30mcg; supplements commonly contain 5000-10,000mcg (166-333x RDI).

Quick Answer

What it is

Biotin is an essential B vitamin used as an enzymatic cofactor. Extremely popular as a 'beauty supplement' for hair, skin, and nails, but clinical evidence for these uses is WEAK.

Key findings

Grade D: Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms (Multiple Sclerosis (MS))
Grade D: Blood glucose (Type 2 Diabetes)

Safety

CRITICAL LAB WARNING: High-dose biotin interferes with many immunoassays causing false thyroid/troponin/hormone results - can lead to misdiagnosis.

ℹ️ Quick Facts: Biotin (Vitamin B7)

Quick Facts: Biotin (Vitamin B7)

Best Evidence:Grade D
Conditions Studied:3
Research Outcomes:3
Key Effect:Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Outcomes by grade:

A0

B0

C0

D3

3 conditions · 3 outcomes

Detailed Outcomes

|

D

Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

No effect

360 participants

none

D

Blood glucose

No effect

33 participants

none

D

Blood glucose

No effect

33 participants

none

Evidence by Condition

Best grade per condition (each condition may have multiple outcomes)

DMultiple Sclerosis (MS)

1 outcome · 4 studies

Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

DType 2 Diabetes

1 outcome · 1 study

1 outcome · 1 study

Research Citations (7)

Biotin supplementation reduces plasma triacylglycerol and VLDL in type 2 diabetic patients and in nondiabetic subjects with hypertriglyceridemia

Biomed Pharmacother

Safety and efficacy of MD1003 (high-dose biotin) in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (SPI2): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial

MD1003 (high-dose biotin) for the treatment of progressive multiple sclerosis: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

High doses of biotin in chronic progressive multiple sclerosis: a pilot study.

Mult Scler Relat Disord

MD1003 (High-Dose Pharmaceutical-Grade Biotin) for the Treatment of Chronic Visual Loss Related to Optic Neuritis in Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

Effects of biotin on lipids and other constituents of plasma of healthy men and women

Treatment of brittle fingernails and onychoschizia with biotin: scanning electron microscopy

J Am Acad Dermatol

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