Biotin is a B-vitamin which we should get from our diet, though it is also produced by intestinal bacteria. It has to be supplemented in patients receiving intravenous feeding. Supplementation is also necessary for people eating a lot of raw egg white.
Some biotin is available in a wide range of foods, though amounts are
always very small. Alas, the biotin needed for normal functioning of the
human body is considered just around 200 micro grams per day.
Biotin deficiency is rare, except for people on an intravenous feeder if
biotin is not supplemented, and except for those eating a lot of raw eggs, including egg whites. Raw egg white contains the avidin molecule which binds to biotin in the stomach, thus making it unavailable for absorption through the intestine. Cooking eggs destroys avidin.
Biotin is needed by the body to maintain hair growth and hair color. It has therefore been added to the diets of patients who worried about losing hair, or hair turning white prematurely. If either of the conditions is caused by biotin deficiency, biotin supplementation will have a great therapeutic effect.
But except for those receiving intravenous feeding, or downing dozens of
raw eggs, supplementation is probably not necessary. Nevertheless, many
multivitamins contain some biotin as well. It won't harm, either.
