What does biotin do?

Biotin (also known as vitamin B7, vitamin H, and coenzyme R) is a water-soluble vitamin commonly classified in the B-complex group. Mammals (including humans) cannot synthesize biotin and rely on biotin synthesized by microorganisms and plants.

Biotin was discovered during nutritional experiments showing that a factor found in many foods was able to cure scaly dermatitis, hair loss and neurological symptoms induced in rats fed dried egg whites.

Avidin is a glycoprotein found in egg whites that binds biotin very specifically and tightly. From an evolutionary perspective, avidin may be the bacteriostatic agent in egg whites.

Since avidin is also resistant to pancreatic proteases, ingested avidin binds to dietary biotin (and possibly any biotin from gut microbes) and prevents absorption, allowing biotin to pass through the gastrointestinal tract road. Cooking denatures avidin, making it easily digestible and unable to interfere with biotin absorption.

Biotin and health

1. It is the prosthetic group of various hydroxylases

Biotin is a prosthetic group for pyruvate hydroxylase, acetyl-CoA hydroxylase, etc. It participates in the fixation and carboxylation process of CO in the body and is necessary for fat and carbohydrate metabolism.

Performance is as follows:

① Helps the normal synthesis and metabolism of fat, glycogen and amino acids in the human body;

② Promote the normal operation and growth of sweat glands, nervous tissue, bone marrow, male gonads, skin and hair, and reduce the symptoms of eczema and dermatitis;

③Relieve muscle pain;

④Promote urea synthesis and excretion, purine synthesis and oleic acid biosynthesis;

⑤ Used to intervene in diseases such as arteriosclerosis, stroke, lipid metabolism disorders, hypertension, coronary heart disease and blood circulation disorders;

⑥Pharmacological doses of biotin can reduce blood sugar levels in patients with type 1 diabetes.

2. Biotin can also regulate gene expression and histone function

Biotin is also involved in cell signal transduction and gene expression. The human genome contains more than 2,000 biotin-dependent genes. Biotin can also biotinylate histones, thereby affecting the cell cycle, transcription, and repair of DNA damage.

Biotin has a stimulating effect on genes that contribute to hypoglycemic effects (insulin, insulin receptor, pancreatic and hepatic glucokinase); conversely, biotin decreases the expression of hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, a stimulating hepatic Key gluconeogenic enzyme that produces glucose.

Biotin deficiency is associated with impaired glucose tolerance and reduced glucose utilization. On the other hand, the diabetic state appears to be improved by pharmacological doses of biotin. Likewise, pharmacological doses of biotin appear to decrease plasma lipid concentrations and alter lipid metabolism.

3. Biotin and Hair Health

At present, biotin has been proven to be beneficial to hair growth in patients with biotin deficiency, but it has no effect on male baldness caused by hormonal levels and genetics. Therefore, do not think that supplementing biotin preparations can prevent hair loss and reshape hair. Bottom line, it is just an additional effect, which can be seen as improving health and improving hair and skin problems at the same time.

4. Biology and immunity

Biotin deficiency has adverse effects on cellular and human immune function. For example, children with inherited abnormalities in biotin metabolism develop candidal dermatitis; these children do not have delayed allergic skin test reactions, immunoglobulin A deficiency, and lower than normal percentages of T lymphocytes in their peripheral blood. Antibody synthesis is also reduced in biotin-deficient rats.

Biotin deficiency and causes

1. Lack of

Biotin deficiency mainly causes damage to the skin, mucous membranes and nervous system.

Typical symptoms of biotin deficiency include alopecia, eczematous rashes, seborrheic dermatitis, conjunctivitis, and a variety of neurological symptoms such as depression, lethargy, hypotonia, and seizures. Although neurological symptoms occur at more severe levels of biotin deficiency, dermatological manifestations usually appear first.

In severe cases, it can cause neuropsychiatric damage such as loss of appetite, limb weakness, paralysis, ataxia, convulsions, depression, demyelination, optic atrophy, vision and hearing loss, etc.

Biotin deficiency can also cause a decline in cellular and humoral immune functions, and patients are often complicated by Candida and bacterial infections.

2. Lack of reasons

①Biotinidase deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disease that prevents the body from releasing free biotin, resulting in biotin deficiency despite normal intake.

② Long-term alcoholism will inhibit the absorption of biotin, and 15% of patients with chronic alcoholism have low plasma biotin concentrations.

③Chronic gastrointestinal diseases (such as short bowel syndrome, parenteral nutrition) lead to biotin absorption disorder

④Improper habits: Long-term consumption of raw egg whites can reduce biotin utilization;

⑤ Excessive use of antibiotics and preservatives leads to a decrease in the ability of intestinal bacteria to synthesize biotin;

⑥ Long-term use of anti-epileptic drugs, such as valproic acid, phenytoin, primidone, and sedatives, will also reduce the content of biotin in the blood.

⑦Pregnant and lactating women: Despite normal biotin intake, at least 1/3 of pregnant women are borderline biotin deficient; even if lactating women's dietary biotin intake exceeds AI, their plasma and breast milk Biotin concentration will also decrease.

It can be seen that biotin is an essential vitamin in the human body. It is the prosthetic group of various hydroxylases, regulates gene expression and histones, promotes hair health, and improves human immune function. From a nutritional point of view , we should eat more cereals, nuts, egg yolks, yeast, animal offal, beans, etc. that are rich in biotin. We can also supplement it through biotin supplements, so as to ensure that our body does not lack biotin.