Biotin (Vitamin B7)

Biotin (also called vitamin B7 or vitamin H) is a water-soluble B vitamin. It works as a helper for several enzymes that your body uses to break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins for energy. Biotin is also involved in the way your body uses other nutrients and builds the genetic material inside your cells.

You get B vitamins from many foods, including leafy green vegetables, meats and fish, eggs, whole grains, milk, and other dairy products. Biotin is found in foods such as egg yolk, milk, yeast, cereal, and mushrooms. A lack of vitamin B is rare in the United States, because many foods have added B vitamins. These foods include cereals, breads, and pasta.

Biotin is also a popular over-the-counter supplement, often marketed for hair, skin, and nail health, and is sometimes used at high doses for certain forms of multiple sclerosis. High biotin levels in the blood can also interfere with several common lab tests, including some thyroid, hormone, and heart tests, so the level may sometimes be checked just to look into unexpected lab results.

Not having enough biotin can show up as skin changes such as a flaky rash (seborrheic dermatitis), hair loss, muscle pain, eye irritation, and unusual sensations in the skin. In rare cases, biotin problems are inherited and need medical treatment with biotin supplements - these inherited disorders, such as biotinidase deficiency and holocarboxylase synthetase deficiency, can be life-threatening if not caught early, and delayed treatment can cause permanent brain or nerve damage.

Your results will show the amount of each B vitamin that was tested. If your vitamin B levels are normal, but you have symptoms, you may need other tests to diagnose your condition.

If you're lacking in one or more B vitamins, you may need other tests to find out why. Your provider may recommend taking vitamin B supplements. In certain cases, vitamins may be given by intravenous (IV) treatment.

A biotin level that is much higher than the normal range usually means you are taking biotin from a supplement or a prescription. This high level itself is not harmful, but it can cause some other lab tests to be wrong, so let your provider know about any biotin you are taking before blood work.

If you have questions about your results, talk with your provider.