page_title: Biotin
section_title: Bioavailability
hierarchical_section_title: Biotin / Bioavailability
caption_attribution_description: English: Biotin levels with different doses of oral supplements. Levels reached steady state after approximately 3 days. Source of the values: &#32;(September 2017).&#32;"Population pharmacokinetics of exogenous biotin and the relationship between biotin serum levels and in vitro immunoassay interference". Biochem. Pharmacol.&#32;2&#32;(4): 247-56. DOI:10.4155/ipk-2017-0013.
context_page_description: Biotin also called vitamin H, vitamin B₇ or vitamin B₈ 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.
  Biotin deficiency can be caused by inadequate dietary intake or inheritance of one or more inborn genetic disorders that affect biotin metabolism. Subclinical deficiency can cause mild symptoms, such as hair thinning, brittle fingernails, or skin rash, typically on the face. Neonatal screening for biotinidase deficiency started in the United States in 1984, with many countries testing for this disorder at birth. Individuals born prior to 1984 are unlikely to have been screened, obscuring the true prevalence of the disorder.
context_section_description: Studies on biotin's bioavailability have been conducted in rats and in chicks. Based on these studies, biotin bioavailability may be low or variable, depending on the type of food being consumed. In general, biotin exists in food as protein-bound form or biocytin. Proteolysis by protease is required prior to absorption. This process assists free biotin release from biocytin and protein-bound biotin. The biotin present in corn is readily available; however, most grains have about a 20-40% bioavailability of biotin.
  The wide variability in biotin bioavailability may be due to the ability of an organism to break various biotin-protein bonds from food. Whether an organism has an enzyme with that ability will determine the bioavailability of biotin from the foodstuff.
caption: Biotin levels with different doses of oral supplements at steady state.
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