Biotin and Hair Growth: Separating Myth from Reality

Biotin, which is a water-soluble vitamin B, is often promoted for its potential benefits in promoting hair growth and overall hair health.

When it comes to biotin deficiency-related hair thinning or loss, however, it is crucial to comprehend the role and efficiency of this element.

Hair Health and Biotin

Biotin which also goes by the name vitamin B7 plays a vital part in the well-being of our skin, nails, and hair. It forms keratin that the structural foundations of your hair are made up of. Here’s how biotin can impact hair growth:

• Deficiency Support: Thin hair that falls off easily could be a symptom of low levels of biotin, so supplements might prove beneficial in such cases.

The result will be an improvement in both aspects of improved strength as well as increased thickness.

• Dietary Supplementation: At big box stores I always walk through their dietary supplement sections just to find out new products they have for sale.

Often these contain several ingredients including biotin incorporated into them.

• Topical Application: Many shampoos and conditioners promising thicker fuller hair include biotin as one of the ingredients.

Nonetheless, even though there is less certainty in efficacy when topically applied than when it comes to ingestion via diet, it still remains one prominent constituent in various hair care products.

My Experience with Biotin Products

In both supplements and products for my locks, I have noticed something very similar; most frequently, biotin is being talked about regarding its role in promoting the growth of head hair.

This has been my journey:

• Supplements: Using vitamins that have a certain amount of biotins has been part of my efforts towards improving the quality of my hair.

However, some people like myself tend to see their hair becoming stronger while I experience reduced loss after using them over time with great results.

• Hair Care Products: I have incorporated shampoo or conditioner that has biotin into my hair routine. While the scientific basis is limited they appear to give hair volume look and feel.

This article looks at the relationship between biotin and hair health and whether it works for hair growth or prevents the loss of strands safely.

Research Reveals That

Biotin, also called vitamin B7, is involved in a number of body processes such as converting food into energy and producing keratin for the skin, nails, and hair.

It remains unclear whether it directly aids in human hair growth outside those who are deficient right now but there are multiple benefits of using this element on our bodies.

The Role of Biotin in the Body

• Energy Production: Biotin plays a role in converting carbohydrates, fats, and proteins from what you consume as food into energy.

• Keratin Production: This substance is essential for the production of keratin known as a major structural component in your hair skin nails etc.

Biotin Deficiency and Its Effects

People with balanced diets rarely suffer from biotin deficiency which is a very rare case. But when it does occur some other symptoms include;

• Skin Rashes: Biotin deficiency can cause red scaly skin.

• Brittle Nails: This condition can lead to weak nails that break easily.

• Hair Thinning and Loss: Since it contributes to the development of keratin that makes up each piece of strand on your head, lack thereof will result in thinner hairs falling off more frequently than before.

Research on Biotin and Hair Growth

Study 1: Multi-Ingredient Hair Growth Supplement (2012)

• Participants: Women who think they have thin hair.

• Method: Subjects were randomly allocated to obtain a six-month course of either a multi-ingredient food supplement for hair growth containing biotin or a placebo.

• Results: The supplement users reported an increase in hair volume, scalp coverage, and thickness. The placebo group did not see significant changes.

• Limitations: The supplement was composed of many constituents including zinc and iron which are also required for the growth of hair.

Accordingly, this means that Biotin alone may not be responsible for the observed benefits.

Further, it is important to note that the small sample size as well as potential nutrient deficiencies among participants might have affected these findings.

Study 2: Biotin Supplements in Children

• Participants: Children with biotin deficiency-related diseases.

• Method: Children received oral tablets of biotin.

• Results: Enhanced growth rate or quality of the hair was noted

• Limitations: Since all participants had biotin deficiency this information cannot be generalized to those without such deficiencies

Limited Evidence for Biotin in Non-Deficient Individuals

However, there is limited strong evidence on whether biotin-enriched products improve hair growth in non-deficient people. While biotin is widely advertised as having numerous benefits for those aspiring to have good looking hairs, current research does not generally support these claims.

Does biotin help prevent hair loss?

Though weak and limited, there seems to be more support for the use of Biotin in preventing alopecia than its role in promoting new hair follicle creation.

Since there has been no single study that has ever existed basing its results on only one use of this vitamin alone.

This article takes a detailed look at how the two are related and why it’s important to know them.

Biotin Deficiency and Hair Loss

Study on Biotin Deficiency and Hair Loss

• Findings: A 38% rate of biotin deficiency was recorded in research carried out on women who had the problem of hair loss. Of these, 11% had risk factors for deficiency such as IBD, inflammatory bowel disease, or some antibiotics.

• Implications: However, this does not mean that any biotin supplements, which include those present in hair products, can stop baldness; it just suggests that there is a strong link between the two.

Other Causes of Hair Loss

However, there are various other reasons behind hair fall such as:

• Women pattern baldness: It is also known as Androgenetic Alopecia which is one of the most common causes of hair loss among females.

• Quick Weight Reduction: Sudden and substantial weight loss may lead to thinning or shedding off of the hair.

• Lack of essential nutrients: Iron deficiencies, zinc deficiencies, and protein deficiencies among others are major causes of hair loss.

• Diseases caused by hormonal imbalances: For instance, thyroid disorders can interfere with normal hair growth causing it to fall out rapidly.

The Role of Biotin Supplements

Efficacy of Biotin Supplements

• Study on Post-Surgery Hair Loss: The study involved 22 patients who underwent gastric sleeve surgery that had low levels of biotin leading to their hair loss. The sample received three months’ supply of biotin supplements. The results were:

• 5 patients reported a significant decline in hair loss.

• 14 patients reported a small effect.

• 3 patients reported no effect.

These findings indicate that while some individuals may benefit from using biotin supplements to address their nutritional deficits (deficiency), there are other elements that contribute to (cause) balding, and biotin alone is not sufficient to prevent (stop) hair loss.

Important Considerations

Finding out the Cause of Hair Loss

Diagnosis First: It is important to know what really causes hair loss before one starts a course of biotin supplements, as it may delay proper treatment for hair loss.

If you take biotins without getting to the root cause, this could lead to inappropriate care for hair loss.

Advantages and Restrictions

Biotin’s Role: In patients with confirmed biotin deficiency, the use of supplements can potentially help stop hair loss and encourage hair growth.

However, even in such cases, other factors may also affect the effectiveness of biotin supplementation.

Daily needs and biotin-rich foods

Biotin (otherwise known as vitamin B7) performs various functions within the body including supporting energy production and healthy skin, nails, and hair.

Below are some top food sources of biotin along with their respective values per 100g serving:

Food Sources of Biotin

Food Micrograms (mcg) Daily Value (DV)
Beef liver, 3 ounces (85 grams) 30.8 mcg 103%
Egg, whole 10 mcg 33%
Salmon, 3 ounces (85 grams) 5 mcg 17%
Pork chop, 3 ounces (85 grams) 3.8 mcg 13%
Hamburger patty, 3 ounces (85 grams) 3.8 mcg 13%
Sunflower seeds, 1/4 cup (33.2 grams) 2.6 mcg 9%
Sweet potato, 1/2 cup (76.9 grams) 2.4 mcg 8%
Almonds, 1/4 cup (36 grams) 1.5 mcg 5%

Cooking Eggs is Important

However good eggs may be as a source of Biotins they should be cooked rather than consumed raw.

Raw egg whites contain avidin, a sugar protein that tightly binds biotin and prevents it from being absorbed in the body.

Avidin is destroyed by cooking eggs thus allowing for effective absorption of Biotin by the body.

Therefore, for both safety and nutritional benefits, it is best to avoid consuming raw eggs.

Biotin in Food Labels

Despite being added to certain food products, food manufacturers are not obliged to indicate the amount of biotins on their labels under FDA regulations.

This means that most packaging does not come with information about the presence of biotin making it necessary for people to be familiar with natural sources of this compound.

Gut Bacteria and Biotin

Apart from dietary sources, gut bacteria make biotin too.

Still little is known about how gut bacteria influence the overall biotin status of humans due to various factors affecting its composition and the complexity of gut microbiota.

The relationship between intestinal bacteria and biotins in human beings is still unclear owing to the complex nature of gut microflora as well as the different factors that affect its quality or content.

Further research should focus on understanding how role played by human gut bacteria in determining levels of biotin within our bodies.