Biotin Containing Foods

physician assistant

10 years ago

Introduction:

Biotin is a water soluble B vitamin also known as coenzyme R and vitamin H important for production of multiple carboxylase enzymes. It is necessary for synthesizing amino acids, breakdown of fats, production of fatty acids, growth of cells, and assists with gluconeogenesis. Deficiency of biotin is rare in the United States but occurs more frequently in less developed countries around the world. Symptoms of biotin deficiency include muscle aches, neurologic dysfunction, altered mental status, loss of appetite, nausea, alopecia, and dermatitis.

Biotin deficiency:

Biotin deficiency may occur with excess consumption of raw egg whites or egg white protein due to content of avidin which binds biotin rendering it useless. It also occurs in multiple carboxylase deficiency in which a defect results in holocarboxylase synthetase or biotinidase deficiency resulting in improper metabolism of biotin (4).

Screening of the newborn for multiple carboxylase deficiency:

It is important to ensure as a parent that a newborn is screened for multiple carboxylase deficiency because neurologic symptoms may be irreversible. Biotin is readily available as a supplement in pill form which corrects the deficiency. Pregnant patients with multiple carboxylase deficiency and their infants have a higher risk of sequelae from biotin deficiency.

Common Biotin Containing Foods (1,2)

(no daily intake guidance has been established)

Swiss chard

Egg yolk

Milk

Liver

Leafy green vegetables

Peanuts

Brewer’s yeast

Sardines

Legumes

Soybeans

Bananas

Whole grains

Biotin Supplements

Also produced by intestinal flora

Assessment and Plan: Biotin

Ensure your newborn is screened for multiple carboxylase deficiency at birth. Ensure adequate intake of biotin during pregnancy. Patients with multiple carboxylase deficiency require biotin supplementation.

Do not consume raw egg whites or egg white protein in excess.

References:

1.Roth, K. S. Biotin in clinical medicine–a review. Am.J Clin.Nutr. 1981;34(9):1967-1974.

2.Biotin. The Free Medical Dictionary. http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/biotin. Retrieved 2013-1-27.

3.Cole H, Reynolds TR, Lockyer JM, Buck GA, Denson T, Spence JE, Hymes J, Wolf B Human serum biotinidase. cDNA cloning, sequence, and characterization. J Biol Chem. 1994;269(9):6566. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7509806

4.Baykal T, Gokcay G, Gokdemir Y, Demir F, Seckin Y, Demirkol M, Jensen K, Wolf B.Asymptomatic adults and older siblings with biotinidase deficiency ascertained by family studies of index cases. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2005;28(6):903-12. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16435182