Biotin is considered part of the B complex of vitamins even though it is listed as either Vitamin B7 or Vitamin H. It is also an extremely popular additive to hair products, with a plethora of claims regarding the impact it has on hair appearance and growth.
Part of this claim is based on basic biology. Your body does need biotin to process your food in a healthy way. Mount Sinai Health Systems explain it this way, “All B vitamins help the body to convert food (carbohydrates) into fuel (glucose), which is used to produce energy. These B vitamins, often referred to as B complex vitamins, also help the body metabolize fats and protein. B complex vitamins are needed for healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver. They also help the nervous system function properly.”
So, when we talk about biotin supplements for hair growth, hair health and hair loss… there is a scientific reason for the claim. But as with a lot of supplements, some people have taken it too far, claiming that you might need biotin supplements when you do not.
What Does Biotin Do to Your Body?
Biotin helps your body convert your food into its three major components – fats, carbohydrates, and proteins – all of which you need to be healthy. But after that, the usefulness of biotin gets a little hazy.
Writing for Harper’s Bazaar, Lisa Fogarty writes, “Despite a dearth of scientific evidence proving its efficacy, biotin – a B vitamin found in foods like eggs, salmon, and sunflower seeds that helps the body metabolize fat and carbohydrates – continues to be touted as the single most effective cure for hair shedding and hair loss.”
Fogarty’s question was prompted by her own hair loss journey and the fact that biotin is in nearly every hair growth formula made. But that does not mean it is anything more than a placebo.
Does Biotin Regrow Hair?
A 2017 literature review published by the National Institutes of Health concludes that there is no hard scientific evidence to support the idea that biotin supplements or topical biotin can increase hair growth. That is not to say it absolutely does not help, just that we really do not know.
What we do know is that biotin appears to help some people increase their hair health, especially people with Crohn’s disease or other issues with vitamin absorption. As with most vitamins, many people get more than enough vitamins from their diet and supplements are not needed. But if you are vitamin deficient, then supplements can be vital.
Is Taking Biotin Safe?
The upside of taking biotin – whether it helps or not – is that it is unlikely to cause any side effects, and your body will naturally flush out what you do not need. B vitamins (including biotin) are water soluble, which means any excess will be eliminated when you next urinate.
Nutrition manager Vanessa King told Health.com that the chances of consuming enough Vitamin B7 to create an overdose is virtually impossible, but some people can have negative side effects from the huge doses available in some commercial preparations. Those doses are sometimes more than 30 times the recommended daily dosage of biotin. In those cases, people sometimes have stomach distress, sleep disruption or even dehydration because of the large volume of biotin they are consuming.
Questions about Biotin? Call the experts at Precision Hair Restoration
Here at Precision Hair Restoration, we know that you are looking for a solution to make your hair look as good and be as healthy as possible. If biotin or other supplements are right for your specific hair loss needs, we will let you know and help with lifestyle changes and customized treatment suggestions. To get the best advice about your hair loss, contact us today.
