Biotin for hair, skin and nails: what it does, what the label means and one important caution
By Melt Daily ·
Biotin is the headline ingredient in most hair, skin and nails supplements, including our GLOW strip. Here is what biotin is, how to read the very large %DV on the label, and one thing every biotin user should know before their next blood test.
What biotin is
Biotin, also called vitamin B7, is a water-soluble B vitamin. The body uses it to help turn food into energy, as a helper for enzymes that break down fats, carbohydrates and protein. Biotin also has a well-known role in keratin, the protein that makes up hair and nails, which is why it is so common in beauty supplements.
Where it comes from
Biotin is found in many foods, including eggs (especially the yolk), salmon, meat, seeds, nuts and sweet potatoes. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements notes that most people in the U.S. get enough from food.
Why the %DV is 16,667%
The Daily Value for biotin is 30 mcg, so 5000 mcg is 16,667% DV. That is a common amount in hair, skin and nails products. The NIH has not set an upper limit for biotin, because harmful effects have not been reported at high amounts. But high amounts do cause one real, practical problem.
The important caution: biotin and lab tests
The FDA has warned that biotin can interfere with certain lab tests and cause falsely high or falsely low results. This includes some tests for heart health (such as troponin) and thyroid hormone. That can lead to a missed or wrong result.
The fix is simple: tell your doctor and the lab that you take biotin before any blood work. They may ask you to pause it for a period before the test. This applies to any biotin product, not just ours.
What else is in GLOW
- Biotin: 5000 mcg, 16,667% DV
- Folate: 400 mcg DFE (240 mcg folic acid), 100% DV
- Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol): 20 mcg, 100% DV
Folate is a B vitamin the body uses in normal cell division. Vitamin D plays a role in normal calcium absorption and bone health. Together they round out a simple, daily beauty-routine strip in an orange flavor.
Setting expectations
Hair and nails grow slowly, so any routine takes patience. Many things affect hair and nails, including overall diet, sleep, stress, genetics and health conditions. If you are noticing sudden hair loss or major nail changes, see a doctor or dermatologist, since those can have causes worth checking.
If you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medication or managing a health condition, check with your doctor or pharmacist before adding a supplement.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
