The Alphabet of Vitamins – Vitamin B7 (Biotin)

You hear all about them in every day conversation but what do you really know about vitamins? Everyone knows that they’re good for us but how are they good for us? Give us the details, please!

Vitamin B7, or Biotin, is water-soluble and contains sulphur and supports energy production. It regulates gene expression, supports your hair and bones, facilitates cell signaling, and helps in a process that makes glucose out of non-carbohydrate materials.

Biotin is part of enzyme reactions that make glucose out of fats and proteins. Glucose is a simple sugar your body uses as energy and usually comes from carbohydrates. Vitamin B7 also aids in the regulation of which genes are expressed because it affects important proteins called transcription factors (proteins that help read the DNA code for the cell). Biotin also modifies special proteins in the cell nucleus that help organize DNA and impacts gene regulation.

Biotin works on a more visible scale, too. The vitamin supports healthy bones and hair.

You don’t get many Biotin deficiencies because Vitamin B7 can be synthesized by intestinal bacteria, although it’s not known how much you can actually absorb. It can be found in fish, whole grains, yeast, liver, and avocado and has no reports of toxic reactions. High doses can interfere with certain lab tests so make sure to tell your doctor if you are taking high doses of Biotin before you have lab tests.

So let’s review – Biotin is an essential water-soluble vitamin critical for gene expression, energy support and glucose production. All extremely good reasons to make Vitamin B7 a part of your daily life and nutritional plan.