What is biotin? Biotin is one of the most popular vitamins in vitamin B complex. It was discovered in the late 30s and was originally called vitamin H. Nowadays it is known as vitamin B7. Biotin plays an important role in the metabolism of sugar and fat. It has an important influence on the strength of the skin, hair growth and nails.
There are many foods high in biotin such as egg yolk, almonds, onions, chicken, lettuce, carrots.
To answer the question what is biotin good for let’s look at its basic functions
What is biotin good for and which are its basic functions?
Biotin is mostly known to be good for the hair growth and nails. It is recognized as a natural remedy for hair loss. But actually it has many important functions in the entire human organism.
- Synthesis of fats (fatty acids) – many of the classic biotin deficiency symptoms include skin problems associated with the role of biotin in the synthesis of fat. Biotin is necessary for the function of the enzyme acetyl Co-A carboxylase. This enzyme puts together the building blocks for the production of fat in the body.
- Supports the nervous system – as glucose and fats are used to create energy within the nervous system, biotin is a help in this area. Numerous nerve symptoms are associated with a biotin deficiency.
- Biotin plays an important role in the transformation of folic acid (vitamin B9) in a form usable by the body.
- Energy production – Biotin is involved in the metabolism of sugar and fat. In sugar metabolism, biotin helps move sugar from its initial stage of processing to convert it into usable chemical energy.
These are some of the most known functions and biotin benefits that help us to answer the question what is biotin. As one of the essential nutrients, biotin can play an important role in the prevention of many diseases as: alopecia, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, chronic diarrhea; neurological disorders such as ataxia, convulsions, hypotension, skin diseases and more.
Biotin and hair growth
Biotin is very often recommended for hair growth and healthy nails. It is widely used in cosmetics and supplements. However, biotin benefits for the strength and growth of hair and nails is still highly debated and questioned. This is because there are no sufficient evidences of the link of biotin and hair growth.
According to University of Maryland Medical Center very weak evidence suggests that biotin supplements may improve fingernails and hair.
