Unveiling the Vitality of Biotin

Biotin, a pivotal water-soluble member of the B complex vitamin group, orchestrates numerous biochemical processes essential for human health. Primarily, it serves as a coenzyme indispensable in the synthesis of aspartic acid, a critical player in various metabolic pathways including the deaminase system and carbon dioxide fixation.

Despite its significance, biotin's presence in plasma is modest compared to other water-soluble vitamins. Predominantly existing in a free form, it seamlessly integrates into the aqueous phase of plasma, facilitating its vital functions throughout the body.

Deficiency of biotin is uncommon but can manifest under specific circumstances. Consumption of raw egg white, rich in avidin, poses a risk as it binds with biotin, rendering it unavailable for metabolic processes. Furthermore, prolonged usage of certain anticonvulsant drugs may accelerate biotin breakdown, predisposing individuals to deficiency. Infants born with biotinidase deficiency face a genetic anomaly leading to biotin depletion, underlining the necessity of this vitamin from early stages of life.

The repercussions of biotin deficiency are profound, ranging from scaling skin and lesions to nerve fiber degeneration, impeding normal growth and development. Yet, owing to microbial flora in the intestine, there's ambiguity regarding the precise dietary requirement for biotin.

While biotin is ubiquitously present in foods and feedstuffs, its concentrations vary significantly. Liver emerges as a stellar source, with peanuts, peas, beans, and whole cooked eggs also offering substantial amounts. Conversely, fruits and meats typically exhibit lower biotin content, emphasizing the importance of a varied diet for optimal biotin intake.

In conclusion, biotin's multifaceted role in human physiology underscores its indispensability for overall well-being. By understanding its sources and consequences of deficiency, we can ensure adequate intake, thereby safeguarding against potential health implications.
Unveiling the Vitality of Biotin

The vitamin of biotin

The discovery of biotin or vitamin B7 occurred in response to research investigating the cause of what was then called ‘egg white injury’.

In 1924 three factors were identified s necessary for the growth of microorganisms. They were called bios II, vitamin H, and coenzyme R. It soon became clear that all three were the same water soluble, sulfur containing vitamin – biotin.

Biotin is a bicyclic compound; one of the rings contains an ureido group and the other contains sulfur in a tetrahydrothiophene ring with a valeric acid side chain.

In food, mostly meats and protein, biotin is found both free and bound to protein. The protein bound form can liberated via proteases yielding free biotin forms, predominantly biotin and secondary biocytin.

Although biotin is widely distributed in foodstuff, the concentration is low compared to the other water-soluble vitamins.

Biotin in foods is fairly widespread because it is found in every living cell. Biotin is found in highest concentration in the liver. In food, biotin is present in relatively high concentrations in cereals, including soybeans, rice, barley, oats, corn and wheat. It is also high content in certain ocean fish.

Although egg yolk area concentrated source of biotin, whites contain a protein called avidin that has an extremely high affinity for biotin and substantially decreases its availability for absorption.

Biotin deficiency leads to impairment of gluconeogenesis and fat metabolism. Biotin deficiencies can also induce severe metabolic acidosis.
The vitamin of biotin

Biotin deficiency

Biotin is a water soluble vitamin that is generally classified in the B complex group. This B complex vitamin used in the formation of enzymes that fuel the human body.

Biotin is a key factor in metabolizing and utilizing fats an glucose for energy.

Deficiency of this compound is unusual, but can be demonstrated by the feeding of raw egg white, which contains the substance, avidin, which ties up biotin.

Because some anticonvulsant drugs breakdown biotin, people who take then for long periods also risk a deficiency.

Biotin deficiency also has been clearly demonstrated in biotinidase deficiency. This due to several process which involved gastrointestinal absorption, salvage of biotin at cellular level and renal loss of biocytin.

Infants born with biotinidase deficiency suffer from a rare genetic defect that leads to biotin depletion.

Decreased levels of biotin cause the metabolism to become severely impaired. When enzymes aren’t available to breakdown and build up protein, every biochemical process of the body suffers since protein are the essential building blocks of cellular composition.

The clinical findings and biochemical abnormalities caused by biotinidase deficiency are quiet similar to those of biotin deficiency: common finding include periorificial dermatitis, conjunctivitis, alopecia, ataxia, and development delay.
Biotin deficiency

Biotin

Biotin is a water soluble vitamin that is generally classified in the B complex group.

Biotin is reported to be coenzyme in the synthesize of aspartic acid, which plays a part in a deaminase system and in other processes involving the fixation of carbon dioxide.

Biotin concentration in plasma are small relative those of other water soluble vitamins. Most biotin in plasma is free, dissolved in the aqueous phase of plasma.

Deficiency of this compound is unusual, but can be demonstrated by the feeding of raw egg white, which contains the substance, avidin, which ties up biotin.

Because some anticonvulsant drugs breakdown biotin, people who take then for long periods also risk a deficiency.

Infants born with biotinidase deficiency suffer from a rare genetic defect that leads to biotin depletion.

Deficiency of biotin cause scaling skin, skin lesions, and a deterioration of nerve fibers.

Due to production of biotin by the microbial flora of the intestine, the requirement for this compound is not known.

The deficiency also can delay growth and development.

Biotin is widely distributed in foods and feedstuff, but mostly in very low concentration.

Liver is an excellent source of biotin, and peanuts, peas, beans and whole cooked eggs are good sources.

Most fruits and meats rank as poor source.
Biotin