FREE ESSAY ON BIOTIN

BIOTIN

Tiffani May Chemistry Period 2
Biotin Report Ms. Tareila
Biotin is important for healthy hair and skin. 100 mg of biotin may prevent hair loss in
some men. Biotin helps to relieve muscle pain. It promotes healthy nerve tissue, bone
marrow and sweat glands. It also relieves seborrheic dermatitis in infants. 
Biotin works with folic acid and vitamin B12 to break down fats, protein, and
carbohydrates. Biotin is found in most foods and also manufactured by bacteria in the
intestinal tract. Most biotin deficiencies are associated with the consumption of raw egg
whites which contain avidin. Avidin binds with biotin to prevent its absorption into the
blood. Cooking the egg whites deactivates avidin. Biotin is non-toxic and probably not
required in supplement form. Although biotin deficiencies are rare, they can occur when
people have malabsorption problems. Some research indicates that male pattern baldness
may respond to supplemented biotin, albeit in a very marginal fashion.
Biotin is found in cooked egg yolks, salt-water fish, beef and poultry, milk, cheese, soy
products and whole grain breads. If athletes are eating raw egg whites, extra biotin must
be consumed. 
Reagent for enzymatic incorporation of biotin into nucleic acids. Biotin-21-dUTP is a
dTTP analog with biotin covalently attached to the pyrimidine ring through a 21-atom
spacer arm. It can be incorporated by nick translation, mixed primer labeling,
3'-end-labeling, or PCR. Biotin-21-dUTP has a 21-atom spacer arm, the longest spacer
available, which reduces steric hindrance in subsequent detection using
streptavidin-conjugated enzymes. 100 ?l is sufficient for 50 nick translation reactions.
Biotin-21-dUTP is provided with a complete User Manual (PT1464-1). 
Product Size Cat. # 
Biotin-21-dUTP (0.5 mM) 100 ?l 5021-1 
Biotin-21-dUTP (10 mM) 100 ?l 5021-3 
Form
100 ?l of 0.5 mM solution in 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5)
or 100 ?l of 10 mM solution in 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5) 
Storage Conditions: -20?C 
Biotin plays a key role in turning fat, carbohydrates and amino acids into fuel for the
body. It also helps strengthen hair and nails. 
Food Sources
3/4 cup of soybeans or 1/2 cup of oatmeal = 30 mcg (Adequate Intake for adult male) 
Brewer's yeast, liver, oatmeal, soybeans, eggs, salmon, milk, mushrooms, halibut,
bananas, peanut butter, cantaloupes, cottage cheese.* 
*Foods have been placed in descending order from best to good source. 
Deficiency Signs, Symptoms and Those at Risk
Signs of deficiency in infants are skin rash and/or scaly inflammation of the skin. 
Signs of deficiency in adults are dry, scaly skin; nausea; fatigue; depression; and hair
loss. 
Infants under six months born with very low levels of biotinidase (the enzyme that
activates biotin) are at risk for deficiency. 
Adults on long-term anti-convulsant drugs, which can inhibit biotin uptake in the
intestines, are at risk for deficiency. 
Dosage Information
Age Adequate Intake 
Under 6 months 5 mcg 
6-12 months 6 mcg 
1-3 years 8 mcg 
4-8 years 12 mcg 
9-13 years 20 mcg 
14-18 years 25 mcg 
Males 19+ 30 mcg 
Females 19+ 30 mcg 
Pregnant 30 mcg 
Lactating (1st 12 mths) 35 mcg 
Toxicity/Possible Side Effects
To date, no cases of biotin toxicity have been reported. 
[INDEX] 
1-85 Deficiencies of Vitamins B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin) and the
cofactor (helper substance) Biotin reduce immune resistance markedly. If B5 (Pantothenic
Acid) or B6 (Pyridoxine) are deficient, resistance drops almost to zero. A good B Complex
is necessary to compliment Vitamin C when fighting infections.
1-144 Biotin is essential to the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats. It has no known
toxicity. Any supplemental form is as good as another. The best natural sources of Biotin
are soybeans and brown rice. Raw egg white contains a substance called avidin, which
prevents Biotin from being absorbed into the body. Biotin can help with hair loss only
when used as part of a complete vitamin and mineral supplement.
BIOTIN
A coenzyme.
In 1916 it was discovered there was a detrimental effect in eating raw eggs.*
-  susceptible to strong acid and alkaline, UV 
-  stable in heat, visible light and air 
-  the D-isomer id its active form 
Absorption
-  absorbed in the small intestine mainly by active transport (some passive absorption
and possibly some bacteria synthesis) 
-  storage of biotin occurs in the liver, kidney and adrenals 
* inhibited by avidin which is found in raw egg whites
Increased requirements
-  alcohol, coffee, raw egg whites 
-  pregnancy, lactation 
-  aging 
-  athletes 
-  dermatitis 
Excretion
In the urine mainly.
Synergistic nutrients
-  increases the synthesis of B12 
-  convert tryptophan to B3 
-  with B2, B3, B6, A in skin function 
-  with B5 in hair pigmentation 
-  Mg and Phosphorus are needed to convert biotin into it's active form 
-  needed to activate B5, B9, B12 
-  Zn metabolism 
Functions
1. carboxylation and decarboxylation reactions in protein metabolism 
2. carbohydrate metabolism 
3. synthesise and secrete insulin 
4. glycogen synthesis 
5. fat metabolism 
6. antibody and haemoglobin production 
7. pancreatic amylase production 
8. maintain health of hair, skin, sebaceous glands, bone marrow, sex glands 
9. can help cholesterol plaques in blood vessels 
Deficiency
Symptoms
GIT - nausea, vomiting, anorexia
Skin
-  grey skin (although they are not dying), alopecia (hair loss), scaly dermatitis, skin
dryness 
-  increased lactic acid levels 
-  increased blood cholesterol 
-  hypoglycaemia 
-  greying hair 
Reproductive abnormalities due to mother's deficiency - cleft palate, micromelia
(abnormally small limbs)
Therapeutic uses
-  for the deficiencies above 
-  candida (biotin decreases levels of Candida) 
-  atherosclerosis 
-  acne 
-  leg cramps 
-  diabetes 
-  burns and scalds 
Toxicity
None known.
Dose
-  RDA 200 mcg 
-  Therapeutic 150-600 mcg 
Sources
Most animal and plant tissues, eg. egg yolk, liver, nuts, soya beans, brown rice, Royal
jelly, bee pollen, Brewer's yeast.
Bibliography
Tiffani May is a college student at Delaware County, she is currently majoring in
communications.