The body needs different types of vitamins to control metabolism, including vitamin B7. Vitamin B7 or commonly referred to as biotin is a vitamin that works to help carbohydrate metabolism and fat become energy, regulating cholesterol in the body and blood sugar, as well as the formation of keratin to keep the condition of nails, hair and skin alive. Well, did you know what it would be like if the body lacked biotin? Listen below the reviews.
How common are people experiencing biotin deficiency?
Actually, biotin deficiency is rare. When people have eaten with complete nutritious food, usually biotin is sufficient by itself. Because, lots of food around that contains a large amount of vitamin B. But that does not mean that no one is suffering from this biotin deficiency.
What are the symptoms of biotin deficiency?
Skin flushed, especially skin
Dry and scaly skin
Dry eyes
Hair is brittle and fall
Difficult sleep or insomnia
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Depression
Experiencing a burning sensation or piercing in the hands and feet
Muscle pain
Often abdominal pain
Lip skin at the corner of the mouth breaks
Seizure
Difficulty walking
What impact would it have if the body lacked biotin?
The impact of biotin deficiency can vary, depending on the symptoms. Most of the impact of biotin deficiency is the onset of skin and hair problems, brain and nervous problems, as well as the digestive tract especially the gut.
Launched in Medscape, alopecia totalis can develop from this biotin deficiency condition. Alopecia is a condition of baldness in the scalp. This condition starts from the faster hair becomes fragile and fall out.
From dry, scaly scalp symptoms, it is also found that infants with biotin deficiency often experience cradle cap (crust on the head).
At the age of the children, biotin deficiency rises to higher hearing losses that vary in severity, from mild to severe levels. In the Pediatr Journal Otorhinolaryngol states that 55% of children who develop biotin deficiency develop hearing loss.
In addition, symptoms of seizures due to biotin deficiency can have an impact on the occurrence of encephalopathy, ie 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 encourage pregnant women to consume foods high in biotin for growth and development of the fetus in the womb.
People taking drugs
Antibiotics include a type of drug that can destroy good bacteria in the intestines. Basically, these vitamins can be obtained from foods and good bacteria in the intestine. If good bacteria or flora in this intestine are destroyed then bacteria can not help provide biotin for the body. The risk of having a biotin deficiency is greater.
People with biotinidase deficiency
People with this biotinidase deficiency are the most commonly deficient in biotin compared to pregnant women and people taking the drugs. This is a rare genetic condition.
This condition makes the body unable to use biotin. Thus, people with this disorder always lack biotin.
This is due to the mutation of genes. The genes that dictate the body to make the enzyme biotinidase in order to process the incoming biotin from food.
How is the treatment for people with biotin deficiency?
Handling done when experiencing biotin deficiency is done by feeding biotin-rich foods, as well as supplementation.
Food
Adult bodies need about 30 micrograms (mcg) per day, children need 5 mcg per day, and pregnant women need 35 mcg of biotin per day. To get the vitamin biotin is not difficult in food because all foodstuffs usually contain high biotin. Among others:
Egg yolk
Sardine
Nuts are mainly almonds, peanuts, walnuts, and soybeans
Cauliflower
Banana
Mushrooms
Carrot
Seafood
Milk, yogurt, and cheese
Sunflower seed
Supplementation
Aside from food, people with biotin deficiency will be advised to take biotin supplements. Biotin supplements have a dose of 10, 20, and 100 mcg.
Before using any of these supplements, you should consult a doctor first. Because, it is feared this biotin supplement has an interaction to other drugs that you consume.