Assessment of Biotin Supplementation Among Patients in an Outpatient Dermatology Clinic

January 2019 in “ Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology ”

Jason J. John, Victoria Cooley, Shari R. Lipner

biotin skin hair nails FDA warning lab tests

TLDR Most people using biotin don't see skin improvements, and it may affect lab tests, so doctors shouldn't suggest it without confirming a deficiency.

The study assessed biotin supplementation among 447 patients at an outpatient dermatology clinic, revealing that 33.7% had used biotin, with 57.9% of users reporting no improvement in their conditions. Despite limited evidence supporting biotin's benefits for skin, hair, and nails, it was frequently recommended by physicians or self-prescribed. Only 4.7% of participants were aware of the FDA warning about biotin's interference with lab tests. The study concluded that biotin should not be routinely recommended due to its potential to affect lab results and the lack of substantial clinical evidence for its dermatologic benefits.

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Research cited in this study

2 / 2 results

research Rethinking Biotin Therapy for Hair, Nail, and Skin Disorders

57 citations, February 2018 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

Biotin supplements are not proven to improve hair or nails and may interfere with medical tests.

research A Review of the Use of Biotin for Hair Loss

78 citations, January 2017 in “Skin appendage disorders”

Biotin supplements may improve hair and nail growth in people with certain deficiencies or conditions, but there's not enough evidence to recommend it for healthy individuals.

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research Nutritional Significance of Inositol and Biotin for the Pig

27 citations, July 1946 in “The journal of nutrition/The Journal of nutrition”

Biotin and inositol are crucial for pig health and growth.