A.

BIOTIN

1. Defention

Biotin also called vitamin H (the H represents Haar und Haut,

German words for "hair and skin"), vitamin B7 or vitamin B8 (in many
countries like France, where vitamin B7 is used for Inositol) is a water-
soluble B vitamin .It is involved in a wide range of metabolic processes,
both in humans and in other organisms, primarily related to the utilization
of fats, carbohydrates, and amino acids (Keith A 2003).
Biotin is an important component of enzymes involved in
metabolizing fats and carbohydrates, influencing cell growth, and affecting
amino acids involved in protein synthesis.Biotin assists in various
metabolic reactions involving the transfer of carbon dioxide. It may also
be helpful in maintaining a steady blood sugar level. Biotin is often
recommended as a dietary supplement for strengthening hair and nails,
though scientific data supporting these outcomes are weak.[ Nevertheless,
biotin is found in many cosmetics and health products for the hair and
skin. (Keith A 2003).
Biotin is composed of a ureido ring fused with a
tetrahydrothiophene ring. The ureido ring acts as the carbon dioxide
carrier in carboxylation reactions.[9] A valeric acid substituent is attached
to one of the carbon atoms of the tetrahydrothiophene ring. Biotin is a
coenzyme for multiple carboxylase enzymes, which are involved in the
digestion of carbohydrates, synthesis of fatty acids, and gluconeogenesis.
[3] Biotin is also required for the catabolism and utilization of the three
branched-chain amino acids: leucine, isoleucine, and valine
(Wilchek.2002).
2. Healt Benefit
a) Biotin is vital to many body functions. According to the
University of Maryland Medical Center, vitamin B7 is used by
the body to metabolize carbohydrates, fats and amino acids. It
is also vital for the normal growth of fetuses.
b) Many people take biotin supplements to increase the health
of their skin, hair and nails. While more research is needed, it
seems that B7 may be helpful in these areas. A double-blind
study by the Ablon Skin Institute Research Center and the
University of California found that taking biotin created
significant hair growth in women with temporary hair thinning.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine also notes that biotin
can be helpful in the treatment of skin rashes in infants known
as seborrheic dermatitis or cradle cap. There is no research to
prove this claim, according to the Penn State Hershey Medical
Center.
c) "Biotin is important for hair, skin and nails," said Lauren
Graf, clinical dietitian for Montefiore-Einstein Cardiac
Wellness Program. "Low levels of biotin can lead to brittle
nails and thinning hair. There is some evidence that biotin
supplements can help prevent hair thinning, especially if you
are deficient. Taking a biotin supplement is not likely to be
harmful and may improve hair quality."
d) B7 may also be helpful in the treatment of diabetes. A study
by Alpha Therapy Center found that a treatment that combines
chromium picolinate and B7 improves glucose metabolism in
patients with type 2 diabetes. High doses of biotin were also
found helpful in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy, a
symptom of diabetes.
e) Use in biotechnology. Biotin is widely used throughout the
biotechnology industry to conjugate proteins for biochemical
 assays.[34] Biotin's small size means the biological activity of
the protein will most likely be unaffected. This process is
called biotinylation. Because both streptavidin and avidin bind
biotin with high affinity (Kd of 10−14 to 10−15 M) and
specificity, biotinylated proteins of interest can be isolated
from a sample by exploiting this highly stable
interaction(Wilchek.2002).

3. Sources of Biotin

Food µg per Serving size µg per

serving 100 g

Chicken liver, cooked 138 74g 186.5

Beef or pork liver, cooked up to 35 3 ounce

Egg, cooked up to 25 large egg

Yeast, baker's, dried up to 14 7 gram up to

packet 200

Avocado up to 6 avocado

Peanuts, roasted, salted can vary 28g 18-100

between
5 μg and 28 μg

Salmon, cooked up to 5 3 ounce

Sunflower seeds, roasted, 2.4 31g 7.7

salted

Biotin is synthesized by intestinal bacteria, but there is a lack of good quality

studies about how much biotin they provide. Biotin is stable at room
temperature and is not destroyed by cooking. Sources with appreciable
content are:
REFERENCE

Keith A (2003) Evolution of the coordinate regulation of glycolytic enzyme genes

by hypoxia,.Journal of Exper. Biology. 206:2911-2922.

Wilchek,M.and Bayer,E.A (2002).Biotin immobilization systems in Biomolecules

analysis.Oxford,U.K.