Biotin 10mg | 120 Capsules | NOW Foods

Biotin 10mg by NOW Foods

Biotin is one of the B vitamins that people most often know by name. NOW Foods puts 10mg of biotin in each vegetarian capsule. You take 1 per day with a meal, and a bottle of 120 capsules lasts four months.

What biotin does in your body

Biotin is also known as vitamin B8 or vitamin H, from the German Haut en Haar. It is a water-soluble vitamin that works as a coenzyme (a substance that needs an enzyme to do its work). Five enzymes in your body depend on biotin. They help your cells to build fatty acids, break down amino acids and create glucose when you haven't eaten for a while. That is why the official EU claims are also mainly focused on your metabolism. Biotin contributes to a normal energy-yielding metabolism. Biotin contributes to a normal metabolism of macronutrients, the fats, proteins and carbohydrates from your food. And biotin contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system and to normal psychological function.

Approved health claims for biotin

The reason biotin is so popular has everything to do with hair and skin. Many people wonder if that is true. In short: biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, and biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal skin. In addition, biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal mucous membranes, such as those in your mouth and nose. What many people do not know: a real biotin deficiency is rare, because you get it through eggs, nuts, oatmeal, legumes and organ meat, and because your gut bacteria also make it in small amounts. Raw egg white is, by the way, a known game-changer. It contains avidin, a protein that binds biotin, so that you do not absorb it. Cooked egg does not have that problem.

Why 10mg, and what to pay attention to

The reference intake for biotin is 50mcg per day. With 10mg (10,000mcg) per capsule, you are well above that: 20,000%. That sounds like a lot, but biotin is water-soluble. What your body does not use, you urinate out. There is no legal upper limit established, because no harmful effects are known at high intake. However, there is one important point to pay attention to. High doses of biotin can affect the results of some laboratory tests, such as those for thyroid hormones and heart enzymes. Those tests themselves use biotin as an aid in the analysis. If you need to have your blood drawn, report that you use biotin. Often it is advised to stop a few days before the test.

How to best incorporate biotin

Biotin is a vitamin that you don't have to do much for. Take the capsule with a meal, with a glass of water, at a time that is easy to remember. If you already use a multivitamin, take a look at that label. It often contains biotin too. If you smoke, are pregnant or use medications for epilepsy, consult your doctor. Those situations can change your biotin needs.

In the capsule, besides biotin, there is only rice flour to evenly distribute the small amount of vitamin, plus some silicon dioxide and plant-based stearic acid. The capsule is made of cellulose, so it is suitable for vegans. This way you get 10mg of biotin per capsule in a simple form, without all kinds of extra substances around it.