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The Best Biotin

Supplements Of 2022,
According To Experts
By Lauren Silva
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d Sarah Berger
Published: May 11, 2022, 10:33am

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on this page do not affect our opinions or
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guidance from the Forbes Health
Advisory Board.

Biotin, or vitamin B7, helps break down

fats, carbohydrates and proteins in foods.
As a deficiency in biotin has been linked to
hair, skin and nail problems, if you’ve ever
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looked into what you More
could do to

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Nature Made Biotin

5.0

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On Amazon

$0.17
Price
per serving

2,500 micrograms
Amount
per serving

Recommended
Taylor Wallace
by

Why We Picked It

Key Features

NOW Biotin
5.0

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On Amazon

$0.15
Price
per serving

5,000 micrograms
Amount
per serving

Recommended
Keri Gans
by

Why We Picked It

Key Features

Country Life High Potency

Biotin
5.0

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On Amazon

$0.20
Price
per serving

10,000 micrograms
Amount
per serving

Recommended
Keri Gans
by

Why We Picked It

Key Features

Life Extension Biotin

4.5

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On Amazon

$0.07
Price
per serving

600 micrograms
Amount
per serving

Recommended
Taylor Wallace
by

Why We Picked It

Key Features

Pure Encapsulations Biotin

4.0

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On Amazon

$0.18
Price
per serving

8 milligrams
Amount
per serving

Recommended
Taylor Wallace
by

Why We Picked It

Key Features

Solgar Biotin
4.0

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On Amazon

$0.18
Price
per serving

10,000 micrograms
Amount
per serving

Recommended
Toby Amidor
by

Why We Picked It

Key Features

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FORBES HEALTH R
PRODUCT
RATINGS

5.0

Nature Made
Biotin

5.0

NOW Biotin

5.0

Country Life
High Potency
Biotin

4.5
Life Extension
Biotin

4.0

Pure
Encapsulations
Biotin

4.0

Solgar Biotin

Meet Our Panelists

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Nutrition

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Nutrition

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Food / Nutrition / Food
Safety

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For our best biotin supplements ranking,

the Forbes Health editorial team consulted
a panel of accredited nutrition experts on
their top picks for biotin supplements and
why they recommend them. Star ratings
were assigned solely by the editorial team,
based on factors including cost, user rating
and third-party certification.

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Biotin, or B7, is a water-soluble B-vitamin

that breaks down carbohydrates, fats and
proteins from food for energy for the body.
Biotin occurs naturally in foods, such as:

• Meat, fish, eggs and milk

• Seeds and nuts
• Sweet potatoes, spinach and broccoli
• Bananas

How Much Biotin Do I Need?

The National Institutes of Health notes the

following average daily recommended
amounts of biotin per day, based on age:

HOW MUCH BIOTIN DO I NEED?

0-6 Months 5
micrograms

7 - 12 months 6
micrograms

1-3 years 8
micrograms

4-8 years 12
micrograms

9-13 years 20
micrograms

14-18 years 25
micrograms

19 years & older 30

micrograms

Pregnant teens and 30

women micrograms

Breastfeeding teens and 35

women micrograms

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Given its prevalence in food, most people

get the recommended daily amount from
diet alone. A biotin deficiency, or when
someone doesn’t have enough biotin, is
typically identified by its symptoms of
thinning hair, brittle nails and a red, scaly
rash on the face.

Individuals are more likely to have a biotin

deficiency if they are pregnant and/or
breastfeeding, have alcohol dependence,
smoke regularly, receive kidney dialysis or
have biotinidase deficiency (a genetic
disorder in which the body cannot use the
biotin from foods).

Biotin supplementation may also be used

for prolonged IV feedings, infants receiving
formula without biotin and those who
regularly consume raw egg whites which
contain avidin, a compound that prevents
biotin absorption, according to Ryan
Andrews, a registered dietitian for
Precision Nutrition in Toronto, Canada.

Because biotin supplementation for a

deficiency is associated with thinning hair
or a rash, biotin has been marketed as a
solution for other individuals with hair loss
or similar hair, skin or nail conditions.
However, there is no good scientific
evidence to support biotin supplementation
in those without a deficiency.

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“The main unintended effect of taking

biotin can be false readings (both positive
and negative) in some lab tests,” says
Andrea Fossati, M.D., a doctor at the
Integrative Health and Wellness Certificate
program at the University of Vermont. “I
ask my patients to stop supplements that
contain biotin four to seven days prior to
some selective lab testing.”

For one, biotin supplementation can falsely

lower thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
in lab tests. Dr. Fossati warns that this “can
make it harder to accurately diagnose
hypothyroidism,” which is when you don’t
have enough thyroid hormones, or can lead
to a mistaken hyperthyroidism (when you
have too much thyroid hormone) diagnosis.

Biotin may also lower troponin (a protein

found in heart muscles) levels. Troponin
found in the blood is used as a marker of a
heart attack or heart damage. Falsely lower
levels could lead to a missed heart attack
diagnosis.

Other tests that may be affected by biotin,

according to Dr. Fossati, are those for
hepatitis B and C, HIV and COVID-19
antibody testing.

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Without regulation from the U.S. Food and

Drug Administration before they hit
shelves, dietary supplements can vary
widely. Dr. Fossati and Andrews
recommend looking for products that have
U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), Good
Manufacturing Practice (GMP) or NSF
International certification.

Andrews suggests looking for the results of

third-party testing on a supplement
company’s website. Check for contaminants
and any other potentially unwanted
ingredients.

“I would discourage consumers from

buying very high dose biotin supplements,”
says Dr. Fossati. Higher doses can lead to
the above side effects and are often not
needed.

Best Biotin Supplements

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Generally, you don’t need a biotin

supplement unless you are deficient in the
vitamin.

If you are considering taking biotin for hair,

skin or nail health, Dr. Fossati suggests first
thinking about ways to include biotin-rich
foods in your diet. Turning to vitamin-rich
food can also provide additional proteins
and healthy fats that can benefit your hair,
skin and nails. Additionally, any
weaknesses in those areas may be a sign of
underlying health conditions that cannot be
treated by biotin supplementation.

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Biotin has been shown to be safe for most

people when taking up to 300 milligrams
(300,000 micrograms) daily for up to six
months. But experts typically recommend
taking lower doses, like 2.5 milligrams per
day.

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• Best Multivitamins For Women

• Best Multivitamins For Men
• Best Vitamins For Hair Growth
• Best Collagen Powders
• Vitamin B Deficiency: Causes, Symptoms
And Treatment
• Which Diet Is Right For Me?

Sources

References

Information provided on Forbes Health is for

educational purposes only. Your health and
wellness is unique to you, and the products and
services we review may not be right for your
circumstances. We do not offer individual
medical advice, diagnosis or treatment plans. For
personal advice, please consult with a medical
professional.

Forbes Health adheres to strict editorial integrity

standards. To the best of our knowledge, all
content is accurate as of the date posted, though
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author’s alone and have not been provided,
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advertisers.

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Contributor

Lauren Silva, a freelance writer in New

York City, believes in feeling good in your
body and making that experience
accessible to everyone across
generations. The proof is in her ever-
piling browser tabs and newsletters,
which help her stay on top of the latest
wellness trends. When she’s not
researching sustainable alternatives to
her everyday products, Lauren is likely
attempting to make a dent in her “TBR”
book pile.

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