General Questions about Biotin
What is Biotin?
Biotin (vitamin B7) is a water-soluble vitamin that is one of the eight B vitamins. In the human body, Biotin often works in synergy with other B vitamins to convert carbohydrates, fat and protein into usable energy. Biotin also supports normal functioning of the nervous system and healthy hair, skin, and nails. Biotin is especially important for pregnant women because it helps support healthy fetal development.
What are some risk factors for a Biotin deficiency?
Even though a severe Biotin deficiency is considered to be rare, today’s over-reliance on refined and processed foods can provide a challenge to optimal biotin intake for some individuals. Pregnant women may be more prone to a Biotin deficiency due to the vital role it plays in healthy fetal development. Other individuals at risk for a Biotin deficiency include smokers, people on dialysis and those with gastrointestinal disorders such as malabsorption syndromes, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Some medications taken long term (e.g. anti-seizure drugs, antibiotics) may also raise the risk for biotin deficiency.
Are there any food sources of Biotin?
The best way to obtain enough Biotin is to consume a diverse diet featuring seafood, vegetables, beans, nuts, and whole grains. Some of the best food sources of biotin include brewer’s yeast, eggs, sardines, salmon, almonds, pecans, carrots, cauliflower, bananas, and mushrooms.
What is the recommended dietary allowance for Biotin?
The 100% daily value (%DV) for vitamin B7 (Biotin) for individuals 18 years of age and older is 30 mcg. This goes up to 35 mcg per day during pregnancy/breastfeeding. As with any supplement, please talk to your healthcare provider prior to supplementation to ensure you are following the dosing schedule that is right for your particular health needs.
Is there an established upper toxicity limit for Biotin?
The Upper Tolerable Limit (UL), established by the Food and Nutrition Bard (FNB) of the Institute of Medicine, is considered to be the highest amount you can take of a nutrient without theoretical risk. The FNB has not established an upper intake level (UL) for Biotin due to its low level of toxicity.
Can Biotin supplements be taken with OTC or prescription medications?
If you are taking or planning to take an OTC or prescription medication, please consult a licensed pharmacist or your healthcare provider before beginning supplementation to minimize risk of side effects associated with potential supplement-drug interactions.
Still have questions?
- For general information about Biotin, check out the resources below—
- Biotin Fact Sheet for Consumers — Office of Dietary Supplements
- Biotin — Linus Pauling Institute
- Biotin — Harvard School of Public Health
- Biotin — An Overview
- For specific guidance on the suitability of Biotin to support your particular health goals, please talk to your healthcare provider.
Questions about Biotin Gold
What is the source of biotin in Biotin Gold?
Biotin Gold provides a gentle and nourishing form of plant-based biotin from Sesbania leaf. Biotin Gold is not synthetic biotin fermented, grown or cultured in yeast or a blend of organic foods fortified with synthetic biotin and marketed as “whole-food” or “food-based” biotin.
How does Biotin Gold compare to other commercially-available Biotin supplements?
At NutriGold, we understand “synthetic” vitamins to be man-made vitamins that are created in a lab using industrial chemicals and “natural” vitamins to be vitamins that are extracted, concentrated, or otherwise derived from living food sources. The primary difference between man-made vitamins and natural vitamins is that man-made vitamins are created in a lab and are not always structurally similar to vitamins that occur in nature. Synthetic vitamin isolates do not always have the necessary cofactors for their proper utilization by the body; the body has to reconstruct the vitamins using its own reserve of cofactors, and this can, over time, lead to inadvertent nutrient depletion. Furthermore, synthetic vitamins can sometimes result in GI disturbances, nausea or a metallic aftertaste.
Biotin Gold is a gentle and nourishing form of plant-based biotin that is derived entirely from a natural food source—it is not synthetic biotin fermented, grown or cultured in yeast or a blend of organic foods fortified with synthetic biotin and marketed as “whole-food” or “food-based” Biotin.
How does NutriGold ensure the purity of the ingredients used in its Biotin Gold product?
At NutriGold, we go above and beyond what is recommended or required under current GMPs to independently verify that the raw materials used in our products as well as the finished products themselves meet industry-defining quality and purity standards. Depending on the complexity of the testing involved, including determining what needs to be tested, what methods are fit-for-purpose, and which lab is most qualified to perform the testing, we sometimes have results from as many as 4 or 5 different independent, ISO-certified labs for each product. We take these results from third-party labs and summarize them in lot-specific Certificates of Analysis that are freely available in the spirit of authentic transparency on the product pages on our website so consumers can make informed purchasing decisions.
What assurance can you provide that the amount of Biotin listed on the label is actually in the product?
All of our products are verified by independent third-party labs to meet identity, purity, and potency label claims. We take these results from third-party labs and summarize them in lot-specific Certificates of Analysis (C of A) that are freely available in the spirit of authentic transparency on the product pages on our website so consumers can make informed purchasing decisions. The C of A provides assurance that the claims made on the label accurately reflect the contents of the product inside the bottle. If interested, more information on our our commitment to independent, third party quality testing can be found at this link - https://nutrigold.com/pages/accountability
What is the best time of day to take Biotin Gold? Should it be taken with food?
Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin that can generally be taken anytime, even on an empty stomach. However, as a matter of principle and in the interest of your health and safety, we encourage you to consult your healthcare provider prior to supplementation to determine what use, if any, is best for your individual needs.
What is a pullulan capsule? What is it made of?
Pullulan is a vegetable-derived, water-soluble polysaccharide produced through a natural fermentation process. Pullulan capsules are considered more natural than HPMC (cellulose) capsules because they are naturally derived from fermented tapioca. Unlike cellulose capsules, which are considered semi-synthetic and not permitted in certified organic products, pullulan is included in the USDA’s National Organic Program list of accepted ingredients for organic products.
Can I break apart the capsule and add the contents to liquid/food to consume?
All of our products are formulated to be taken as capsules and our purity and potency claims are based on the product being taken as recommended. We generally do not recommend breaking apart the capsules because it can introduce contaminants or otherwise compromise product potency and effectiveness.
Is Biotin Gold suitable for children (under 18 years of age)?
Biotin Gold is formulated for individuals over 18 years. Because children are considered a vulnerable population, we regret we cannot make any recommendations regarding the use of our products by or for children under the age of 18. We ask that you talk to your pediatrician or family practitioner about whether or not Biotin Gold is suitable and safe for your child’s particular healthcare needs prior to supplementation.