Vitamin H (Biotin)

Biotin (Vitamin B7, also known as vitamin H) is a water-soluble B-group vitamin, essential for many metabolic and regulatory functions in the body. It is involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, helps regulate cholesterol and glucose levels, is important for homocysteine metabolism, energy production, nervous system function, psychological state, and blood production.

Biotin helps maintain normal skin condition, strengthens nails, reduces hair loss, slows down skin aging, and suppresses inflammatory processes. It also participates in the regulation of sweat glands, testes activity, and enhances vitamin C effects.

Biotin deficiency manifests as:
– dry skin, inflammations (especially around the eyes, lips, nose, anus),
– hair loss, premature graying, weak nails,
– fatigue, nausea, muscle pains, numbness in limbs,
– lack of appetite, eczema, dermatitis.

Biotin can be found in many food products: egg yolk, meat (chicken, veal, liver, kidneys), fish (sardines, salmon), seafood (oysters), dairy products, grains, cereals (oats, rice), nuts, peas, mushrooms, fruits, and vegetables.

Principle of testing: Biotin concentration is determined from venous blood by immunochemical or spectrophotometric analysis. Results are usually presented in ng/ml or nmol/l units.

Recommendations:

• Recommended for deteriorating skin condition, hair loss, weak nails.
• Useful for evaluating chronic fatigue, muscle pain, neurological symptoms, or poor appetite.
• Prescribed for patients with digestive disorders, long-term antibiotic or anticonvulsant therapy.
• May be conducted to assess overall nutritional status, especially for vegetarians, vegans, infants, pregnant women.
• It is recommended to arrive for the test fasting, avoid taking biotin supplements for at least 8 hours before the test (especially due to their effect on skewing the results of other tests).