biotin
Meaning of biotin: Biotin is a B vitamin that supports enzymes involved in energy metabolism, and high supplemental doses are recognized to interfere with certain laboratory blood tests.
Definition of biotin
Biotin, also called vitamin B7, is a water soluble vitamin the body needs in small amounts to support normal function. It acts as a helper molecule, or coenzyme, for several enzymes involved in breaking down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins for energy, and it supports the health of skin, hair, and nerve tissue.
Biotin is found naturally in foods including egg yolks, organ meats, nuts, seeds, and whole grains, and because it is water soluble it is not stored in large amounts, so it needs to be obtained regularly through diet. A true deficiency is uncommon but can cause skin rash, hair thinning, and neurological symptoms.
Biotin's strong chemical attraction to a protein called avidin is used in laboratory and diagnostic testing methods that rely on that binding. Taking biotin in high supplemental doses can interfere with certain blood tests that use this same chemistry, sometimes producing falsely high or falsely low results depending on the specific test.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
The clinician asked about supplement use after an unexpected laboratory result raised concern for biotin interference.
Good to know
High dose biotin supplements are recognized to interfere with certain laboratory blood tests, including some thyroid and cardiac marker tests, which can produce a falsely abnormal or falsely normal result unrelated to a person's actual condition.
Word origin
Where “biotin” comes from
Formed from Greek bios, meaning life, reflecting biotin's essential role in normal cellular function.