Biotin (vitamin B7)
Biotin (B7) is a type of B vitamin. Biotin (vitamin B7) is used for Normal body function (growth and metabolism).
Also called: Biotitum (United States)
Pronunciation: Not established by the supplied research notes..
- Generic name
- biotin
- Drug class
- Water-soluble B vitamin (vitamin B7)
- Form
- Not specified by the supplied research notes.
- Route
- Not specified by the supplied research notes.
- Legal status
- Dietary supplement in the United States; dietary supplements are not approved by the US FDA for safety or effectiveness before sale. Not established as a prescription medicine by the research notes.
Availability and supply rules vary by country
Trade names by country: United States
Australia: · Full directory
What biotin is and how it works
Biotin (B7) is a type of B vitamin. It is water-soluble, which means that the body can't store it; if the body can't use the entire vitamin, the extra amount leaves the body through the urine. The body keeps a small reserve of these vitamins, so they have to be taken on a regular basis to maintain the reserve. (1) (2) (3)
Biotin is needed for growth, helps the body break down and use food (metabolism), and is required for making fatty acids. Lack of biotin may lead to muscle pain, dermatitis, or glossitis (swelling of the tongue), and signs of biotin deficiency include skin rashes, hair loss, and brittle nails. There are no known toxic symptoms from biotin according to the supplied source. The best way to get the daily requirement of essential vitamins is to eat a balanced diet that contains a variety of foods; specific recommendations depend on age, sex, and other factors such as pregnancy. Ask your health care provider which amount is best for you.
Mechanism of action: how biotin works
Biotin (B7) is a water-soluble B vitamin. It is needed for growth, helps the body break down and use food (metabolism), and is required for making fatty acids. Because it is water-soluble, the body can't store it; if the body can't use the entire vitamin, the extra amount leaves the body through the urine, and the body keeps only a small reserve, so it has to be taken on a regular basis to maintain the reserve. (1) (3)
What is Biotin used for?
Normal body function (growth and metabolism)
Biotin is needed for growth. It helps the body break down and use food, which is called metabolism. It is required for making fatty acids. (1)
Evidence for supplements to prevent or treat disease
The supplied sources do not establish efficacy of biotin supplements for preventing or treating any disease. On dietary supplements generally, there is not enough scientific evidence to clearly show that taking any dietary supplement helps to prevent or cure COVID-19. (3)
Before taking biotin
Do not take / not appropriate for
- The supplied research notes do not establish any do-not-take criteria specific to biotin. Do not start, stop, or change any supplement without discussing it with your health care provider. (all products) (1) (3)
Tell your clinician about
- You are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breastfeeding; women who are pregnant or breastfeeding need higher amounts, and specific recommendations depend on age, sex, and other factors.
- You are on a low-calorie diet or avoid certain foods (such as strict vegetarians or vegans).
- You consume fortified foods and beverages (such as cereals or drinks with added vitamins and minerals) along with dietary supplements; total intake of vitamins and minerals should not be more than the safe upper limits for any nutrients.
- You take a blood thinner, such as warfarin (Coumadin and other brand names); talk to your health care provider before taking any multivitamin/multimineral or other dietary supplement that contains vitamin K.
- You smoke or are a former smoker; smokers, and possibly former smokers, should avoid multivitamin/multimineral products that provide large amounts of vitamin A (as preformed retinol or beta-carotene or some combination of the two).
- You have a medical condition for which a health care provider may recommend supplements.
Biotin dosage and how to take it
- The best way to get the daily requirement of essential vitamins is to eat a balanced diet that contains a variety of foods.
- Specific recommendations depend on age, sex, and other factors (such as pregnancy).
- Ask your health care provider which amount is best for you.
- The supplied research notes do not provide supplement dosing or administration instructions for biotin.
Procedures and treatment changes
Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (2) (3)
Missed dose
The body keeps a small reserve of these vitamins, so they have to be taken on a regular basis to maintain the reserve. The supplied research notes do not provide missed-dose instructions for a biotin supplement; ask your health care provider for guidance.
Overdose
The supplied research notes state that there are no known toxic symptoms from biotin. They do not provide overdose amounts or overdose management. If you are concerned about excess intake, contact your health care provider or a poison-information service. If you consume fortified foods and beverages along with dietary supplements, you should make sure that your total intake of vitamins and minerals is not more than the safe upper limits for any nutrients. (1) (3)
Biotin side effects
The supplied research notes state that there are no known toxic symptoms from biotin. Effects listed here relate to lack of biotin as described by that source.
Signs of biotin deficiency
What to notice: Skin rashes, hair loss, and brittle nails.
What to do: Discuss these signs with your health care provider. (1)
Consequences of biotin deficiency
What to notice: Lack of biotin may lead to muscle pain, dermatitis, or glossitis (swelling of the tongue).
What to do: Discuss these symptoms with your health care provider. (1)
Symptoms attributed to insufficient intake of vitamins and minerals
What to notice: Symptoms of biotin deficiency as described in the supplied sources: skin rashes, hair loss, brittle nails, muscle pain, dermatitis, or glossitis.
What to do: Contact your health care provider for assessment and advice on whether a supplement is appropriate. (1) (3)
Serious warnings
Unproven claims about dietary supplements — informational
Symptoms: Not applicable; this is a claim-accuracy warning rather than a symptom set.
Action: Where the supplied sources say evidence is weak, mixed, or insufficient, no stronger claim should be made. There is not enough scientific evidence to clearly show that taking any dietary supplement helps to prevent or cure COVID-19. Dietary supplements are not approved by the US FDA for safety or effectiveness before sale. (3)
Excessive total intake of vitamins and minerals — caution
Symptoms: Not specified by the supplied research notes for biotin; for the general vitamin-and-mineral category, taking them at high doses or taking many different supplements may cause adverse side effects.
Action: If you consume fortified foods and beverages along with dietary supplements, make sure that your total intake of vitamins and minerals is not more than the safe upper limits for any nutrients, and ask your health care provider about your individual situation. (3)
Interactions
| Medicine or test | Effect | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Multivitamin/multimineral products and other dietary supplements | There's no standard or regulatory definition for what nutrients multivitamins/multiminerals, or any dietary supplement, must contain or at what levels; manufacturers choose which vitamins, minerals, and other ingredients, as well as the amounts, to include. Vitamins and minerals at or up to 100 percent of the Daily Value do not typically interact with medications, but high doses or many different supplements may cause adverse side effects. | Check the Supplement Facts panel and full ingredient list, and review total intake with your health care provider. (3) |
| Blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin and other brand names) | The supplied source advises caution specifically for supplements that contain vitamin K, not biotin; the notes do not establish a biotin–warfarin interaction. | If you take a blood thinner such as warfarin, talk to your health care provider before taking any multivitamin/multimineral or other dietary supplement that contains vitamin K. (3) |
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Adequate Intake for biotin is 30 micrograms per day for ages 19 and older, including women who are pregnant, and 35 micrograms per day for lactating women. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding need higher amounts. Ask your health care provider which amount is best for you. (1)
Infants and children
Adequate Intake for biotin varies by age: 5 micrograms per day for ages 0 to 6 months, 6 mcg/day for 7 to 12 months, 8 mcg/day for 1 to 3 years, 12 mcg/day for 4 to 8 years, 20 mcg/day for 9 to 13 years, and 25 mcg/day for 14 to 18 years. These values are Adequate Intake levels established when there is not enough evidence to develop a Recommended Dietary Allowance, set at a level thought to ensure enough nutrition. (1)
People on restricted diets or with medical conditions
Some people who don't get enough vitamins and minerals from food alone, including people who are on low-calorie diets or who avoid certain foods (such as strict vegetarians or vegans), may want to consider taking a vitamin and mineral supplement. Health care providers may recommend supplements for people with certain medical conditions. (3)
Monitoring
Before starting
- Confirm with your health care provider which amount of biotin is best for you, since specific recommendations depend on age, sex, and other factors such as pregnancy.
- Review your total intake of vitamins and minerals from fortified foods and beverages plus dietary supplements against the safe upper limits for any nutrients.
- Tell your health care provider if you take a blood thinner such as warfarin and are considering any supplement containing vitamin K.
During treatment
- The supplied research notes do not specify monitoring parameters for biotin supplementation; follow the advice of your health care provider.
- Reassess total vitamin and mineral intake if fortified foods or additional supplements are added.
Storage
Biotin is water-soluble, which means that the body can't store it; if the body can't use the entire vitamin, the extra amount leaves the body through the urine. The supplied research notes do not provide product storage instructions for biotin supplements.
Professional information
Clinician-facing context only. Use the current local nutrient reference intakes, supplement labelling rules, and the original source documents. The supplied research notes do not provide supplement dosing, efficacy, or overdose amounts beyond the quoted Adequate Intake values.
United States
Indication: Adequate Intake (AI) for biotin
Dose summary: AI for biotin: age 0 to 6 months 5 micrograms per day (mcg/day); 7 to 12 months 6 mcg/day; 1 to 3 years 8 mcg/day; 4 to 8 years 12 mcg/day; 9 to 13 years 20 mcg/day; 14 to 18 years 25 mcg/day; 19 and older 30 mcg/day (including women who are pregnant); lactating women 35 mcg/day. Adequate Intake is established when there is not enough evidence to develop a Recommended Dietary Allowance, and is set at a level thought to ensure enough nutrition.
Renal context: The supplied research notes do not provide renal dosing or renal impairment guidance for biotin. (1)
Hepatic guidance
The supplied research notes do not provide hepatic impairment guidance for biotin.
Overdose note
The supplied research notes state that there are no known toxic symptoms from biotin and do not provide overdose amounts or management. (1) (3)
Frequently asked questions
What is biotin?
Biotin (B7) is a type of B vitamin. It is water-soluble, which means that the body can't store it, and it is needed for growth, helps the body break down and use food (metabolism), and is required for making fatty acids. (1) (2)
Where does biotin come from in food?
Biotin is found in foods that are good sources of B vitamins, including cereal, chocolate, egg yolk, legumes, milk, nuts, organ meats (liver, kidney), pork, and yeast. (1)
What happens if I don't get enough biotin?
Lack of biotin may lead to muscle pain, dermatitis, or glossitis (swelling of the tongue). Signs of biotin deficiency include skin rashes, hair loss, and brittle nails. (1)
How much biotin do I need?
Adequate Intake for biotin is 5 mcg/day for ages 0 to 6 months, 6 mcg/day for 7 to 12 months, 8 mcg/day for 1 to 3 years, 12 mcg/day for 4 to 8 years, 20 mcg/day for 9 to 13 years, 25 mcg/day for 14 to 18 years, 30 mcg/day for 19 and older (including women who are pregnant), and 35 mcg/day for lactating women. The best way to get the daily requirement of essential vitamins is to eat a balanced diet that contains a variety of foods; ask your health care provider which amount is best for you. (1)
Can biotin cause side effects or harm?
The supplied research notes state that there are no known toxic symptoms from biotin. Taking vitamins and minerals at high doses or taking many different supplements may cause adverse side effects, and if you use fortified foods or drinks together with supplements you should make sure your total intake is not more than the safe upper limits for any nutrients. (1) (3)
Do biotin supplements prevent or treat disease?
The supplied sources do not establish efficacy of biotin supplements for preventing or treating any disease. They state that there is not enough scientific evidence to clearly show that taking any dietary supplement helps to prevent or cure COVID-19, and that dietary supplements are not approved by the US FDA for safety or effectiveness before sale. (3)
What is the mechanism of action of biotin?
Biotin (B7) is a water-soluble B vitamin. It is needed for growth, helps the body break down and use food (metabolism), and is required for making fatty acids. Because it is water-soluble, the body can't store it; if the body can't use the entire vitamin, the extra amount leaves the body through the urine, and the body keeps only a small reserve, so it has to be taken on a regular basis to maintain the reserve. (1) (3)
References
- Pantothenic acid and biotin (Medical Encyclopedia, article 002410)MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, U.S. National Library of Medicine · United States · accessed 2026-10-13 · source 1
- B Vitamins (health topic)MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine · United States · accessed 2026-10-13 · source 2
- Vitamins and MineralsNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, U.S. National Institutes of Health · United States · dated 2023-07 · accessed 2026-10-13 · source 3
Brand names by country
Single-ingredient biotin names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.
Priority countries
United States
- Biotitumpellet · 12 [hp_C], 30 [hp_C], 1 [hp_M], 500 [hp_C], 100 [hp_C], 1 [hp_Q], 6 [hp_C], 200 [hp_C] · hahnemann laboratories, inc.regulator source
- AVEYA BIOTIN HAIR GROWTHliquid · 1 mg00mL · guangdong aimu biological technology co., ltdregulator source