Biotin: The supplement of supplements

BIOTIN is a coenzyme which plays an integral role in the health of skin, nails, hair, nerves, cells, and our metabolism. 

A lack of biotin leads to a disruption of the body’s ability to absorb carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water. For that reason, biotin proves essential in the conversion of those nutrients into energy.

A biotin deficiency and subsequent failure to absorb nutrients, therefore, leads to brittle nails, poor skin quality, thinning hair and in extreme cases hair loss.

Clinicians examining extreme biotin deficiency have reported bald spots and scaly red rashes appearing on the scalps of patients.

Also called vitamin B7, and sometimes ‘vitamin H’ – a moniker derived from the German words ‘haar’ and ‘haut’ which translate as hair and skin – biotin has a synergistic effect when taken with other vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

That is to say, biotin enhances the effect of other hair supplements such as zinc, iron, selenium, niacin as well as vitamins C and D. That is why, at MHR Clinic, we call biotin the “supplement of supplements”. Put simply, it helps the other vitamins and minerals we recommend and provide to do their job well. 

Biotin is naturally available to the body through the consumption of meat, eggs, nuts, avocado, mushrooms, cauliflower, bananas and some berries. However, none of these foods comfortably provide enough biotin to have a noticeably positive effect on human health.

It is only through supplements that the body can receive a sufficient quantity of biotin to realise the true benefits of the coenzyme when taken with other vitamins and minerals.

When it is taken alongside other vitamin and mineral hair supplements, it helps to reduce the time that hair follicles spend in the resting (telogen) phase of their growth cycle.

Biotin’s effect on metabolism, protein production and mineral absorption instead keeps hair growing for longer in the anagen phase – the active growth phase of individual hair follicles which lasts for between two and four years in men, and three and seven years in women.

The long term result of the biotin effect is a healthier and younger look for our hair, skin and nails.

For these results, anyone aged ten or older should aim to get between 30 and 100 mcg of biotin per day. MHR Clinic offers some of the leading biotin supplements on the market and provides them in combination with the correct doses of other vitamins and minerals, used to enhance hair growth.