Occurrence
Vitamin H cannot be produced by the human organism, but it can be stored in the body to a certain extent by binding to a protein that prevents excretion through urine. It occurs naturally in many foods, so there should be no deficiency in a balanced diet. Baker’s yeast is one of the most biotin-rich foods.
With approximately 200 micrometers of vitamin H per 100g of yeast, it contains the most vitamin H. Other foods with a high vitamin H content include oat flakes, milk, spinach, as well as soy products, nuts and animal innards, such as liver and kidney. Likewise there are certain bacteria in the natural intestinal flora of humans, which produce vitamin H during their natural metabolic processes. However it is not yet completely clarified to what extent this vitamin H is absorbed by the human body and plays a role.
Symptoms of deficiency
A vitamin H deficiency can lead to a wide range of symptoms. A vitamin H deficiency can, as with many other vitamins, be characterized by persistent fatigue and a feeling of exhaustion. More extensive neurological symptoms, such as depression or hallucinations, as well as tingling and numbness of individual limbs can also be the result of this deficiency.
In addition, external symptoms such as brittle nails or dull, falling hair or even color changes of the hair, as well as a scaly, red skin rash, which mainly appears around the mouth, nose and eyes, are possible. The immune system can also be impaired by a lack of biotin, resulting in increased bacterial infections or fungal infections. A biotin deficiency can also be the cause of anemia or low blood pressure.A deficiency can have many different causes.
For example, kidney dysfunction can lead to increased excretion of biotin. Patients on dialysis, for example, suffer more often from a vitamin H deficiency. The absorption of vitamin H can also be disrupted and thus insufficient vitamin H can be absorbed.
This is the case with short bowel syndrome, for example, or with disorders of the intestinal flora. Drugs, such as anticonvulsants, which are used to treat epilepsy, can also lead to a biotin deficiency. Pregnancy is another cause of increased consumption and thus a lack of vitamin H. Long-term alcohol abuse can lead to a deficiency of vitamin H in addition to many other deficiency symptoms.
Since Biotin (Vitamin B7) is produced by body-own bacteria, a lack phenomenon is extremely rare. However, the substance avidin, which occurs in chicken egg white, binds biotin and thus inactivates it. Test persons who were regularly administered avidin showed symptoms such as skin scaling, depression and muscle pain.