See Also: Biotin(medicine)
Biotin(health)
biotin(encyclopedia)
biotin(dictionary)
biotin synthetase(medicine)
biotin carboxylase(medicine)
avidin-biotin immunofluorescence(medicine)
biotin sulfoxide reductase(medicine)
Divine Providence Health Center Avera Health(health)
Hegg Memorial Health Center Avera Health(health)

Biotin (health)


A water-soluble B-complex vitamin involved in carbon dioxide transfer and therefore essential to the metabolism of carbohydrate and fat. A balanced diet usually contains enough biotin. Foods with high biotin levels include nuts, cereals, green leafy vegetables and milk. Biotin deficiency, which is characterized by hair loss and a scaly red rash, can occur with prolonged intravenous feeding or the frequent consumption of raw egg whites which contain a biotin antagonist called avidin. Biotin supplementation is recommended during pregnancy because the biotin requirement rises during pregnancy and a substantial number of pregnant women become biotin depleted. Extra biotin is also needed during long-term anticonvulsant treatment which depletes biotin.