biotin (OTC)

Frequency Not Defined

Generally safe

Doses of 10 mg per day have been taken with no adverse effects

Cautions

RDA values not requirements but recommended daily intakes of nutrients

Eating too much raw egg white (contains avidin that binds biotin)

Laboratory test results may be falsely high or low when biotin levels are higher than the recommended daily allowance; biotin is found in multivitamins, including prenatal multivitamins, biotin supplements, and supplements for hair, skin, and nail growth in levels that may interfere with laboratory tests

Pregnancy Category: Not studied

Lactation: Not studied

Pregnancy Categories

A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.

B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.

C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.

D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.

X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.

NA: Information not available.

Sources: liver, legumes, tomatoes, soybeans, carrots

Function: member of water-soluble vitamin family, serves as cofactor to several carboxylases

Deficiency is extremely rare, may cause dermatitis, alopecia, perosis

Metabolism: liver

Excretion: kidney