The Infatuation With Biotin Supplementation: Is There Truth Behind Its Rising Popularity? A Comparative Analysis of Clinical Efficacy versus Social Popularity

May 2017 | Volume 16 | Issue 5 | Original Article | 496 | Copyright © May 2017


Teo Soleymani MD, Kristen Lo Sicco MD, and Jerry Shapiro MD FAAD FRCPC

aThe Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY

there may be benefit to biotin supplementation in the treatment of medication-induced and genetic forms of alopecia, to date, there is not enough evidence to support its use for the most common forms of hair loss.

DISCLOSURES

No financial support nor conflicts of interest to report.

REFERENCES

  1. Schaefer J, Stephanie M., and Chad M. Hivnor. “Nutritional Disorders.” Dermatology. By Jean L. Bolognia, Joseph L. Jorizzo, and Julie V. Schaffer. 3rd ed. Vol. 1. S.l.: Elsevier Saunders, 2012. 742-47. Print.
  2. Otten, JJ, Hellwig, JP and Meyers, LD., ed. (2006). Dietary Reference Intakes: The Essential Guide to Nutrient Requirements. The National Academies Press. ISBN 0-309-10091-7.
  3. Scheinfeld, Noah S. “Biotin Deficiency.” Medscape. WebMD, 31 Jan. 2016. Web. 11 Mar. 2016. <http%3A%2F%2Femedicine.medscape.com%2Farticle%2F984803-overview>.
  4. Famenini S, Goh C. Evidence for supplemental treatments in androgenetic alopecia. J Drugs Dermatol. 2014 Jul;13(7):809-12.
  5. Zempleni J, Hassan YI, Wijeratne SS. Biotin and biotinidase deficiency. Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab. 2008;3(6):715-724
  6. Calderon P, Otberg N, Shapiro J. Uncombable hair syndrome. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009 Sep;61(3):512-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2009.01.006.
  7. Rogers NE, Avram MR. Medical treatments for male and female pattern
  8. hair loss. J Am Acad Dermatol 2008;59:547-56.
  9. Pawlowski, A., Kostanecki, W. Effect of biotin on hair roots and sebum excretion in women with diffuse alopecia. Pol Med J. 1965;5:447–452.
  10. Frigg M, Schulze J, Volker L. Clinical Study on the effect of biotin on skin conditions in dogs. Schweiz Arch Tierheilk. 1989. 131:621-625.
  11. Limat A, Suormala T, Hunziker T, et al. Proliferation and differentiation of cultured human follicular keratinocytes are not influenced by biotin. Arch Dermatol Res. 1996;288(1):31-8.
  12. Mercke Y, Sheng H, Khan T, Lippmann S. Hair loss in psychopharmacology. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2000;12:35–42.
  13. Castro-Gago M, Pérez-Gay L, Gómez-Lado C, et al. The influence of valproic acid and carbamazepine treatment on serum biotin and zinc levels and on biotinidase activity. J Child Neurol. 2011;26(12):1522-4.
  14. Schulpis KH, Georgala S, Papakonstantinou ED, et al. The effect of isotretinoin on biotinidase activity. Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol. 1999;12(1-2):28-33
  15. Ramakrishnappa SK, Belhekar MN. Serum drug level-related sodium valproate-induced hair loss. Indian J Pharmacol. 2013 Mar-Apr; 45(2): 187–188. doi: 10.4103/0253-7613.108315
  16. Arslan M, Vurucu S, Balamtekin N, et al. The effects of biotin supplementation on serum and liver tissue biotinidase enzyme activity and alopecia in rats which were administrated to valproic acid . Brain Dev. 2009 ;31(6):405-10.
  17. Yilmaz Y, Tasdemir HA, Paksu MS. The influence of valproic acid treatment on hair and serum zinc levels and serum biotinidase activity. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2009;13(5):439-43.
  18. Schulpis KH, Karikas GA, Tjamouranis J, et al. Low serum biotinidase activity in children with valproic acid monotherapy. Epilepsia. 2001;42(10):1359-62.
  19. Shelley W, Shelley E. Uncombable hair syndrome: observations on response to biotin and occurrence in siblings with ectodermal dysplasia. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1985;13: 97–102
  20. Boccaletti V, Zendri E, Giordano G, Gnetti L, De Panfilis G. Familial Uncombable Hair Syndrome: Ultrastructural Hair Study and Response to Biotin. Pediatr Dermatol. 2007;24(3):E14-6.
  21. U. Blume-Peytavi, N. Mandt. Hair shaft abnormalities. S.M. Hordinsky M, R. Scher (Eds.), Atlas of hair and nails, Churchill Livingstone, Philadelphia (2000), pp. 105–119.
  22. Whiting DA. Hair shaft defects. E.A. Olsen (Ed.), Disorders of hair growth: diagnosis and treatment, McGraw-Hill, Barcelona (2003), pp. 123–175.
  23. Baird. “Retail Sales of Vitamins & Nutritional Supplements in The United States from 2000 to 2017 (in Billion U.S. Dollars)*.” Statista - The Statistics Portal. Statista. March 2012. Web. 11 Mar 2016.
  24. Lariviere, David. “Nutritional Supplements Flexing Muscles As Growth Industry.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 18 Apr. 2013. Web. 11 Mar. 2016.
  25. Thomas, Addie. “Global Nutrition and Supplements Market: History, Industry Growth, and Future Trends by PMR.” GlobeNewswire News Room. Persistence Market Research; Nasdaq GlobeNewsWire, 27 Jan. 2015. Web. 11 Mar. 2016.
  26. Petronis, Lexi. “The Vitamin My Hairdresser Suggested I Try. And, Wow, He Was Totally Right.” Glamour. Conde Nast, 11 Mar. 2013. Web. 23 Feb. 2016.
  27. Fusaro, Kim. “Two Easy Ways to Get Longer, Stronger, Shinier Hair in Time for Your Wedding.” Glamour. Conde Nast, 31 Aug. 2015. Web. 23 Feb. 2016.
  28. Macon, Alexandra. “Taking the Long View: The Power of Pretty Waist-Skimming Hair.” Vogue. Condé Nast, 12 Apr. 2013. Web. 23 Feb. 2016.
  29. Google Trends - Web Search Interest - Worldwide, 2004 - Present.” Google Trends. Google Analytics; Google, 23 Feb. 2016. Web. 23 Feb. 2016.
  30. Search Engine Optimization - Keyword Trend: “Biotin Hair”” Google Keywords. Jumpshot Marketing Analytics, 23 Feb. 2016. Web. 23 Feb. 2016.

AUTHOR CORRESPONDENCE

Jerry Shapiro MD FAAD FRCPC Jerry.Shapiro@nyumc.org
Close Menu