Does biotin (Vitamin B7) affect cholesterol levels?

Effect of Biotin on Cholesterol Levels

Biotin supplementation can decrease total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, particularly in individuals with hypertriglyceridemia or type 2 diabetes. 1, 2

Mechanism and Evidence

Biotin (Vitamin B7) influences lipid metabolism through several mechanisms:

• Acts as a prosthetic group for carboxylases involved in fatty acid metabolism 3
• Regulates genes critical in intermediary metabolism 1
• May improve glucose metabolism which indirectly affects lipid profiles 4

The most recent and highest quality evidence from a 2022 meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that biotin supplementation:

• Significantly decreased total cholesterol (MD: -0.22 mmol/L) 2
• Reduced triglycerides (MD: -0.59 mmol/L) 2
• Lowered fasting blood glucose (MD: -1.21 mmol/L) 2

Earlier research demonstrated that pharmacological doses of biotin (61.4 μmol/day for 28 days) significantly reduced plasma triglycerides and VLDL concentrations in both diabetic and non-diabetic subjects with hypertriglyceridemia 1.

Clinical Applications

Dosing Considerations:

• Standard supplementation: 30-60 μg/day (routine dose in enteral and parenteral nutrition) 5
• Therapeutic doses for specific conditions:
  • Malabsorption/short bowel syndrome: up to 10 mg/day 5
  • Deficient patients on parenteral nutrition: up to 200 mg/day IV 5

Special Populations:

1. Pregnant and lactating women:

   • May require higher biotin intake than standard recommendations (30 μg/day) 5
   • Lactating women should receive at least 35 μg biotin per day 5

2. Patients with malabsorption:

   • Higher doses (up to 10 mg/day) may be necessary 5

3. Post-bariatric surgery patients:

   • Should have biotin levels checked regularly 5

Safety Considerations

• Biotin is generally safe with no reported toxicity at standard supplementation doses 6
• No adverse effects have been shown for both oral and IV administration up to 5 mg/day for prolonged periods 5
• High doses of biotin can interfere with certain laboratory tests, particularly hormone assays and cardiac markers, which could lead to misdiagnosis
• Biotin deficiency can lead to elevated serum cholesterol and bile pigments 6

Monitoring

• Direct measurement of biotin in blood/serum/plasma can be performed, though some methods may lack sensitivity for clinical purposes 6
• Urinary biotin and related metabolites can be assayed after separation by HPLC 6
• For patients with inflammation or serious illness, specialized testing may be required 6

Biotin's effect on cholesterol appears most pronounced in individuals with pre-existing metabolic disorders rather than in healthy individuals with normal lipid profiles.

Human Genetics: I need to know if biotin affects cholesterol levels.