Biotin
Biotin is important for healthy hair and
skin. 100 mg of biotin may prevent hair
loss in some men. Biotin helps to
relieve muscle pain. It promotes healthy nerve
tissue, bone marrow and sweat
glands. It also relieves seborrheic dermatitis in
infants. Biotin works with
folic acid and vitamin B12 to break down fats,
protein, and carbohydrates.
Biotin is found in most foods and also manufactured
by bacteria in the
intestinal tract. Most biotin deficiencies are associated
with the
consumption of raw egg whites which contain avidin. Avidin binds with
biotin
to prevent its absorption into the blood. Cooking the egg whites
deactivates
avidin. Biotin is non-toxic and probably not required in supplement
form.
Although biotin deficiencies are rare, they can occur when people
have
malabsorption problems. Some research indicates that male pattern
baldness may
respond to supplemented biotin, albeit in a very marginal
fashion. Biotin is
found in cooked egg yolks, salt-water fish, beef and
poultry, milk, cheese, soy
products and whole grain breads. If athletes are
eating raw egg whites, extra
biotin must be consumed. Reagent for enzymatic
incorporation of biotin into
nucleic acids. Biotin-21-dUTP is a dTTP analog
with biotin covalently attached
to the pyrimidine ring through a 21-atom
spacer arm. It can be incorporated by
nick translation, mixed primer
labeling, 3'-end-labeling, or PCR. Biotin-21-dUTP
has a 21-atom spacer arm,
the longest spacer available, which reduces steric
hindrance in subsequent
detection using streptavidin-conjugated enzymes. 100 µl
is sufficient for 50
nick translation reactions. Biotin-21-dUTP is provided with
a complete User
Manual (PT1464-1). Product Size Cat. # Biotin-21-dUTP (0.5 mM)
100 µl
5021-1 Biotin-21-dUTP (10 mM) 100 µl 5021-3 Form 100 µl of 0.5 mM
solution in
50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5) or 100 µl of 10 mM solution in 50 mM
Tris-HCl (pH
7.5) Storage Conditions: -20°C Biotin plays a key role in turning
fat,
carbohydrates and amino acids into fuel for the body. It also
helps
strengthen hair and nails. Food Sources 3/4 cup of soybeans or 1/2 cup
of
oatmeal = 30 mcg (Adequate Intake for adult male) Brewer's yeast,
liver,
oatmeal, soybeans, eggs, salmon, milk, mushrooms, halibut, bananas,
peanut
butter, cantaloupes, cottage cheese.* *Foods have been placed in
descending
order from best to good source. Deficiency Signs, Symptoms and
Those at Risk
Signs of deficiency in infants are skin rash and/or scaly
inflammation of the
skin. Signs of deficiency in adults are dry, scaly skin;
nausea; fatigue;
depression; and hair loss. Infants under six months born
with very low levels of
biotinidase (the enzyme that activates biotin) are at
risk for deficiency.
Adults on long-term anti-convulsant drugs, which can
inhibit biotin uptake in
the intestines, are at risk for deficiency. Dosage
Information Age Adequate
Intake Under 6 months 5 mcg 6-12 months 6 mcg
1-3 years 8 mcg 4-8 years 12 mcg
9-13 years 20 mcg 14-18 years 25 mcg
Males 19+ 30 mcg Females 19+ 30 mcg
Pregnant 30 mcg Lactating (1st 12
mths) 35 mcg Toxicity/Possible Side Effects To
date, no cases of biotin
toxicity have been reported. [INDEX] 1-85 Deficiencies
of Vitamins B1
(Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin) and the cofactor (helper
substance)
Biotin reduce immune resistance markedly. If B5 (Pantothenic Acid) or
B6
(Pyridoxine) are deficient, resistance drops almost to zero. A good B
Complex
is necessary to compliment Vitamin C when fighting infections. 1-144
Biotin is
essential to the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats. It has no
known toxicity.
Any supplemental form is as good as another. The best
natural sources of Biotin
are soybeans and brown rice. Raw egg white contains
a substance called avidin,
which prevents Biotin from being absorbed into the
body. Biotin can help with
hair loss only when used as part of a complete
vitamin and mineral supplement.
BIOTIN A coenzyme. In 1916 it was
discovered there was a detrimental effect in
eating raw eggs.* ? susceptible
to strong acid and alkaline, UV ?
stable in heat, visible light and air ? the
D-isomer id its active form
Absorption ? absorbed in the small intestine
mainly by active transport
(some passive absorption and possibly some
bacteria synthesis) ? storage
of biotin occurs in the liver, kidney and
adrenals * inhibited by avidin which
is found in raw egg whites Increased
requirements ? alcohol, coffee, raw
egg whites ? pregnancy, lactation ? aging
? athletes
? dermatitis Excretion In the urine mainly. Synergistic
nutrients
? increases the synthesis of B12 ? convert tryptophan to B3
?
with B2, B3, B6, A in skin function ? with B5 in hair
pigmentation ? Mg and
Phosphorus are needed to convert biotin into it’s
active form ? needed to
activate B5, B9, B12 ? Zn metabolism
Functions 1. carboxylation and
decarboxylation reactions in protein metabolism
2. carbohydrate
metabolism 3. synthesise and secrete insulin 4. glycogen
synthesis 5. fat
metabolism 6. antibody and haemoglobin production 7. pancreatic
amylase
production 8. maintain health of hair, skin, sebaceous glands, bone
marrow,
sex glands 9. can help cholesterol plaques in blood vessels
Deficiency
Symptoms GIT - nausea, vomiting, anorexia Skin ? grey skin
(although they
are not dying), alopecia (hair loss), scaly dermatitis, skin
dryness ?
increased lactic acid levels ? increased blood cholesterol
?
hypoglycaemia ? greying hair Reproductive abnormalities due to
mother’s
deficiency - cleft palate, micromelia (abnormally small limbs)
Therapeutic uses
? for the deficiencies above ? candida (biotin decreases
levels of
Candida) ? atherosclerosis ? acne ? leg cramps ?
diabetes ?
burns and scalds Toxicity None known. Dose ? RDA 200
mcg ? Therapeutic
150-600 mcg Sources Most animal and plant tissues, eg.
egg yolk, liver, nuts,
soya beans, brown rice, Royal jelly, bee pollen,
Brewer’s yeast.