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Sometimes referred to as Vitamin H, Biotin is in fact member of the Vitamin B complex family. Required by the body in small amounts, Biotin is essential for a wide range of functions in the human body. It is an essential cofactor for the production of certain enzymes involved in the metabolism of sugar, fat and amino acids. Biotin is also important for cellular growth and replication.

Biotin is found in many foods and is also produced by intestinal bacteria, provided the digestive system is healthy.

The principal use for Biotin supplementation is to promote strong nails and healthy hair and aid in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis and diabetes.

The most recent research has shown that Biotin can produce a significant increase in the thickness of the nail plate in 91% of people studied with brittle nails. Biotin’s beneficial effects on the health of the hair possibly reflect its ability to improve the metabolism of scalp oils. Biotin has the same effect in people with seborrheic dermatitis; a common condition characterised by excessive oiliness and dandruff. In infants, this condition is known as ‘cradle cap’ and is thought to result from an absence of intestinal flora that manufactures Biotin in the gut. In this case Biotin supplementation may be given, via breast milk, to the infant. Effective treatment of seborrheic dermatitis in adults involves taking Biotin and the B complex vitamins.

High dose Biotin may improve glucose metabolism in diabetics and also help in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy or nerve dysfunction