What is biotin?
Biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin, also known as vitamin B7. It can also be referred to as vitamin H. It is made by the bacteria found in the bowel.
Why is biotin good for hair health?
Biotin is known to support the maintenance of healthy hair by supporting the normal functioning of the hair growth cycle. It is also understood to protect the hair from dryness and help increase its elasticity, which can be useful for preventing hair breakage.
What else is biotin good for?
It helps to convert food to energy, breaks down fat in the body and, in addition to promoting healthy hair, biotin has also been shown to encourage good skin and nail health.
Which foods contain biotin?
Biotin is naturally found in many foods, often at low levels. These include wholegrain products such as bread, pasta and cereal, dairy products, eggs, chicken, salmon, nuts and Swiss chard. It can also be found in some specially-fortified products.
How much biotin do I need each day?
The recommended daily allowances for biotin vary. The UK’s National Health Service (the NHS) advises that “taking 0.9mg or less a day of biotin in supplements is unlikely to cause any harm”.
How much biotin is in Hair Vitalics?
Each one-a-day Hair Vitalics for Men and Hair Vitalics for Women tablet contains 200 micrograms (0.2mg) of biotin.
What are the side effects of biotin?
Only small amounts of biotin are necessary and the NHS’s current advice at the time of writing, is that there is “not enough evidence to know what the effects might be of taking high daily doses of biotin supplements”. Therefore, it is always best to keep within the recommendations.
Please remember: Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle, and always consult your doctor or take professional advice before taking any supplements if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, under medical supervision, have a medical condition, suffer from food allergies or are allergic to any of the ingredients.
Last updated January 2020