The B grade celebrity that actually works really hard.
Lets get into some seriously interesting science!
Biotin, a water soluble vitamin in the B group of vitamins is also sometimes referred to as Vitamin H and Vitamin B7. Biotin is absorbed into the body by various food sources and can also be synthesised by gut bacteria (Just 1 of many examples why good gut bacteria is crucial). The highest food sources of biotin can be found in salmon, baker's yeast, organ meats, raspberries, wheat grass, oysters and eggs - this makes variety crucial within peoples diets.
Studies show various health benefits of biotin for both general and specific health conditions. One of biotins most important roles it plays in the body is the production of energy and this is done by a biotin dependant process (there are thousands of processes in the body relying on nutrients) involving five carboxylase enzymes (which aids in the transfer of CO2 groups to macromolecules - a metabolic process).
Macromolecules are large molecules made of substances such as proteins and fats which are imperative for optimal metabolic functioning and therefore subsequently providing the body with more energy.
In a nutshell: your metabolic processes are actually reliant on biotin (and more).
If you don't know much about nutrition this is where i’d like to point out that nutrients are just 'chemicals'.
Clinical Nutrition is heavily based on biochemistry and how these chemicals interact in/with our bodies. You don't have to deal with this complex stuff - I do, so don't stress!
Getting back to that metabolic process now: that process assists specifically an enzyme called Acetyl-CoA which provides the body with energy and assists in biochemically in-depth processes. Biotin helps enzymes metabolise substances in the body such as fat, carbohydrates, glycogen synthesis and amino acids therefore assisting the body in many different metabolic pathways such as providing energy and is also a crucial nutrient for healthy embryonic growth in pregnancy.
This function of biotin amongst others is the reason it can assist in treating various health conditions. Some research suggests biotin can assist in the repair and treatment of thinning hair when paired with zinc and combined with the topically applied chemical compound clobetasol propionate.
Other research shows that biotin when paired with chromium can be very effective in treating patients with type II Diabetes & insulin resistance (pre diabetes) in helping to stabilise and lower blood sugar levels - a health epidemic massively on the rise.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of chromium supplementation in patients with type II diabetes revealed that when paired with biotin the results were effective in significantly lowering blood glucose levels without any reports of side effects showcasing biotins role both individually and when paired with chromium its vital role in metabolic functions.
Furthermore biotin has shown to decrease symptoms of nerve pain in diabetics and also a decrease in symptoms of peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) in hands, feet, legs and arms caused by continuing dialysis or diabetes and a deficiency can even cause seizures.
Studies also show mild biotin deficiency is common in pregnancy which poses a risk as this increases chances of abnormal foetal development so an increase in biotin during pregnancy is needed to avoid a deficiency.
Biotin deficiency can occur over long term pharmaceutical medication uses such as antibiotics and anti-seizure medications along with conditions where nutrient absorption is compromised such as crohn's disease - so an increase in biotin will directly have a positive impact helping to alleviate crohn’s disease symptoms for example.
A nutrient you've probably never heard about yet as you can see, scientifically & medically has such a vast impact and role to play in overall human physiology and health.
such as but not limited to:
hair, skin and nail health
control and stabilisation of blood glucose levels
decrease in symptoms of peripheral neuropathy and nerve pain
healthy embryonic growth during pregnancy
assisting transport of CO2 groups to various macromolecules and assisting enzyme metabolisation of nutrients within the body
providing more energy with its imperative role within metabolic functioning.
Evidence and studies show that biotin has many physiological impacts upon the body and can assist in general health conditions, I mean, whats not to love?
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