Vitamin B7 (biotin) in plasma
Biotin (R coenzyme, H vitamin or B7 vitamin) is water-soluble B vitamin, cofactor in the metabolism of fatty acids, carbohydrates, also biotin is a source of sulfur.
It is found in all foods, but in the greatest amount in the liver, kidneys, legumes (soybeans, peanuts), cauliflower, nuts, and brewer's yeast. The daily requirement for vitamin is 0.15-0.3 mg.
The importance of biotin in carbohydrate metabolism is great, due to its interaction to insulin and involvement in glucokinase production. It is also cofactor for folic and pantothenic acids and vitamin B12. Since vitamin B7 contains and transports sulfur essential for the health of skin, hair and nails, it is also called as "beauty vitamin". Vitamin H controls fat metabolism and it is predominantly found in skin and hair cells, thus influencing the fat content in skin. It optimizes the use of fatty acids in the body, including making the scalp less oily, as well as it is able to improve the overall structure and appearance of the hair. Whereas there are no proves that biotin stimulate hair growth but it has been proven that vitamin supplements stop hair loss in balding men caused by the biotin deficiency rather than hormonal imbalances.
Biotin is also necessary for hemoglobin synthesis.
It has been proven to be an effective remedy for the seborrheic dermatitis in newborns, but unfortunately, it is not as effective in adults.
Hypovitaminosis symptoms:
- - peeling skin (especially around the nose and mouth)
- - dermatitis of hands, feet, cheeks
- - dry skin of the whole body
- - lethargy, drowsiness
- - loss of appetite
- - nausea, sometimes vomiting
- - swelling of the tongue and the smoothness of its papillae
- - muscle pain, numbness and tingling in the limbs
- - anemia
Long-term biotin deficiency causes:
- - weakening of immunity;
- - hair loss, baldness;
- - extreme exhaustion;
- - anxiety, deep depression;
- - hallucinations.
Causes of hypovitaminosis:
- - use of antibiotics and sulfanilamides inhibiting the healthy intestinal microflora that synthesizes biotin;
- - diet abuse ;
- - digestive disorders due to atrophy of the mucous membrane of the stomach and small intestine (for example, malabsorption syndrome);
- - regular use of saccharin that negatively affects the biotin absorption and metabolism and inhibits the intestinal microflora as well that synthesizes biotin;
- - eating raw eggs, their protein contains glycoprotein avidin, interacting the biotin;
- - food containing sulphurous compounds as preservatives (E221 - E228) (sulphurous anhydride is formed when such food is heated, as well as when it contacts the air, the biotin is destroyed);
- - alcohol abuse (alcoholic beverages Avoid the normal absorption of biotin).