Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is a type of vitamin B complex. Vitamins belonging to this type of water-soluble vitamins function as enzymes that can convert fats and carbohydrates in food into energy, and produce proteins needed by the body.

Not only that, biotin is also known to have various benefits for body health and beauty.

The following are some of the benefits of biotin for health and beauty:

While in the womb, the fetus requires a lot of nutritional intake for the formation of organs and tissues of the body. These nutrients include folic acid, carbohydrates, protein, and biotin.

Several studies show that nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy, including biotin, can increase the risk of the fetus having birth defects (congenital abnormalities) and low birth weight.

Therefore, it is important for pregnant women to meet their nutritional needs, including biotin intake. If necessary, pregnant women can consult a doctor to get additional biotin supplements during pregnancy.

Biotin is one type of nutrient that can support the work of the insulin hormone in regulating blood sugar levels and preventing insulin resistance. Several studies have also proven that adequate intake of biotin can prevent the occurrence of type 2 diabetes and nerve damage due to the disease.

Besides being good for preventing and controlling diabetes, biotin intake accompanied by a healthy diet and lifestyle can also increase levels of good cholesterol or high-density lipoprotein (HDL). However, further research is still needed to prove the benefits of this one biotin.

Are your fingernails or toenails brittle and break easily? If so, you can take biotin supplements as one way to deal with it. The reason is, biotin is known to support the growth of nail tissue and keep it strong.

Several studies have shown that the use of supplements or hair care products containing biotin is beneficial for hair growth. Biotin is also said to thicken and make hair shinier and prevent hair loss.

Unfortunately, some of the claims for the benefits of biotin above still need further research. However, it never hurts to meet the needs of biotin from a balanced nutritious diet or biotin supplements according to doctor's recommendations.

Adults aged over 18 years are advised to meet the intake of biotin as much as 30-100 micrograms per day. This vitamin can be obtained from several types of food, such as whole grain breads and cereals, beef liver, nuts, salmon, chicken, eggs, and dairy products.

In healthy people and regularly undergo a healthy balanced nutritious diet, biotin deficiency is relatively rare. However, you still need to pay attention to the following symptoms of a biotin deficiency:

In order for your biotin intake to be sufficient, you can eat a balanced nutritious diet and use biotin supplements.

However, the consumption of this supplement must be consulted by a doctor first, especially for children or women who are planning to become pregnant, are pregnant, or are breastfeeding. In addition, biotin supplements can be effective for certain medications, such as antibiotics and epilepsy drugs.