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 participates 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 formation.

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

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

Biotin can be found in many foods: 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: The concentration of biotin 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 assessing chronic fatigue, muscle pain, neurological symptoms, or poor appetite.
• Prescribed for patients with digestive disorders, those undergoing long-term antibiotic or anticonvulsant therapy.
• Can be performed to assess overall nutritional status, especially for vegetarians, vegans, infants, pregnant women.
• It is recommended to come for testing fasting, and avoid taking biotin supplements for at least 8 hours before the test (especially due to their effect on distorting the results of other tests).