Biotin, a water-soluble vitamin of B-complex, is often recommended as a dietary supplement for strengthening hair and nails. In addition to being taken as a supplement, many health and beauty products include biotin as an alternative supplement. Ultimately, Biotin is found in many cosmetics and health products for the hair and skin although scientific data supporting this outcome are weak.
Biotin, also known as vitamin H (the H represents Haar and Haut, German words for “hair and skin”) or vitamin B7, is a water-soluble vitamin of B-complex. It is composed of an ureido (tetrahydroimidizalone) ring fused with a tetrahydrothiophene ring. A valeric acid substituent is attached to one of the carbo atoms of the tetrahydrothiophene ring. Biotin is a coenzyme for carboxylase enzymes that assist various metabolic reactions involved in the transfer of carbon dioxide. Biotin is important in fatty acid synthesis, branched-chain amino acid
catabolism, and gluconeogenesis.
Biotin is often recommended as a dietary supplement for strengthening hair and nails. In addition to being
taken as a supplement, many health and beauty products include biotin as an alternative supplement. Ultimately,
biotin is found in many cosmetics and health products for the hair and skin although scientific data supporting this outcome are weak. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that proliferation and differentiation of cultured human follicular keratinocytes are not influenced by biotin.