Table of contents:
- How common is it for people to have a biotin deficiency?
- What are the symptoms when you are deficient in biotin?
- What impact will occur if the body is deficient in biotin?
- Who is at risk for biotin deficiency?
- Pregnant women
- People who use drugs
- People who have a biotinidase deficiency
- What is the treatment for people with biotin deficiency?
- Food
- Supplementation
The body needs various types of vitamins to control metabolism, including vitamin B7. Vitamin B7 or often referred to as biotin is a vitamin that functions to help metabolize carbohydrates and fats into energy, regulate cholesterol in the body and blood sugar, and also the formation of keratin so that the condition of nails, hair, and skin is maintained. Well, do you know what happens if the body is deficient in biotin? Check out below the review.
How common is it for people to have a biotin deficiency?
Biotin deficiency is rare. When people have eaten a full nutritious meal, usually biotin is sufficient by itself. This is because there are many foods around that contain large amounts of B vitamins. But that does not mean that there are also people who are deficient in biotin.
What are the symptoms when you are deficient in biotin?
- Red skin, especially facial skin
- Dry, scaly skin
- Dry eyes
- Hair is brittle and falls out
- Difficulty sleeping or insomnia
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Depression
- Experiencing burning or stabbing sensations in the hands and feet
- Muscle ache
- Frequent stomach aches
- The skin on the lips at the corners of the mouth is cracked
- Seizures
- Difficulty walking
What impact will occur if the body is deficient in biotin?
The effects of biotin deficiency can vary, depending also on the symptoms that appear. Most of the effects of biotin deficiency are skin and hair problems, problems related to the brain and nerves, and also the digestive tract, especially the intestines.
Reported in Medscape, alopecia totalis can develop from this biotin deficiency condition. Alopecia is a condition of baldness on the scalp. This condition starts with the hair that is getting brittle and falling out faster.
From the symptoms of dry and scaly scalp, it was also found that babies who are deficient in biotin often experience it cradle cap (crust on the head).
In childhood, biotin deficiency has an increased risk of hearing loss of varying severity, from mild to severe. In the Journal of Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol states that 55% of children who are deficient in biotin develop hearing loss.
In addition, seizure symptoms due to a lack of biotin can lead to encephalopathy, which is damage to tissue in the brain.
Who is at risk for biotin deficiency?
Pregnant women
Biotin is very important for pregnant women. Without biotin, babies can be born with disabilities. Doctors will advise pregnant women to eat foods high in biotin for the growth and development of the fetus in the womb.
People who use drugs
Antibiotics are a type of drug that can destroy the good bacteria in the intestines. Basically, this vitamin can be obtained from food and good bacteria in the intestines. If the good bacteria or flora in the intestines are destroyed, the bacteria cannot help provide biotin for the body. The risk of experiencing a biotin deficiency is even greater.
People who have a biotinidase deficiency
People who are deficient in biotinidase are more likely to have biotin deficiency than pregnant women or people who take drugs. This is a rare genetic condition.
This condition makes the body unable to use biotin. So, people who experience this disorder are always deficient in biotin.
This is caused by a gene mutation. Genes that dictate the body to make the enzyme biotinidase so that it can process the biotin that enters from food.
What is the treatment for people with biotin deficiency?
Handling that is done when experiencing a biotin deficiency is done by giving biotin-rich foods, and also giving supplements.
Food
An adult's body needs about 30 micrograms (mcg) per day, children need 5 mcg per day, and pregnant women need 35 mcg of biotin per day. To get this biotin vitamin is not difficult in food because all food ingredients usually contain high biotin. Among others:
- Egg yolk
- Sardines
- Nuts, especially almonds, peanuts, walnuts, and soybeans
- Cauliflower
- Banana
- Mushroom
- Carrot
- Seafood
- Milk, yogurt and cheese
- Sunflower seed
Supplementation
Apart from food, people who are deficient in biotin will be encouraged to take biotin supplements. Biotin supplements have doses of 10, 20, and 100 mcg.
Before using any of these supplements, you should consult your doctor first. Because, it is feared that this biotin supplement will have interactions with other drugs that you consume.
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