Vitamin B7 | D-biotin

Vitamin B7 | D-biotin

Properties: Vitamin B7 comprehensively supports the proper functioning of the body, affecting a number of key biological processes. Its name – biotin – refers to the Greek word “bios” meaning “life”, which shows how important this vitamin is for maintaining good health. First and foremost, it helps take care of the good condition of skin and hair. It facilitates the maintenance of normal sebum and sweat secretion, which is an important factor in the prevention of skin disorders and contributes to improving the appearance of the skin. Vitamin B7 supplementation is also recommended for brittle nails, as the compound has been proven to improve the thickness of the nail plate and promote its regeneration. Moreover, biotin stimulates the work of the immune system. It helps regulate the intensity of immune reactions, and contributes to the development of leukocytes that detect and neutralize potential threats. Thus, it strengthens the body in fighting microorganisms and preventing infections. Equally important in this context is the fact that biotin supports the good condition of the liver – the organ responsible for cleansing the body of toxins. It prevents the accumulation of too much fat in the liver, and also regulates the metabolic changes in which this organ participates. Thus, it improves natural detoxification mechanisms. At the same time, vitamin B7 has a beneficial effect on the balanced functioning of the nervous system. Not only does it support the function of nerve cell mitochondria, but it also facilitates the production of myelin sheaths around neurons, thereby improving the efficiency of signal transmission between cells.

Occurrence: Biotin is found in many types of foods. It is thought to be better absorbed from those sources in which it occurs in its free state (such as milk and vegetables) than from those in which it is bound to proteins (such as meat or yeast). Food products and raw materials in which the highest amounts of it are found include: yeast, beef liver, soybeans, canola, sunflower seeds, peanuts, walnuts, cauliflower, mushrooms, and wheat. Heat treatment does not cause significant loss of vitamin B7.

Biochemistry: Biotin is a heterocyclic compound. Its molecule consists of two condensed rings: an imidazolidine ring and a thiophene ring. Attached to the latter is a side chain of valerianic acid. There are eight optically active isomers of this compound, but the human body can use only one of them: D(+)-biotin. It plays the role of a cofactor for many enzymes, including pyruvate carboxylase or acetyl-CoA carboxylase.

Fun fact: Excess biotin is not toxic, but taking significant amounts can affect blood test results. Elevated levels of vitamin B7 in the blood may prevent the determination of thyroid hormones (TSH levels may be falsely low, while T3 and T4 levels falsely high), beta HCG (tested to confirm pregnancy and diagnose miscarriage as well as ectopic pregnancy) or creatine kinase (an increase in the level of which may indicate disease of the central nervous system or muscle damage). Therefore, supplementation should be discontinued one week before the scheduled blood test.