What is the recommended daily dosing of biotin for adults?

Recommended Daily Dosing of Biotin for Adults

The recommended adequate intake of biotin for adults is 30 μg (micrograms) per day. 1

Standard Dosing Recommendations

• The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) guidelines indicate that 30 μg/day is the standard recommendation for adults 2
• This recommendation is supported by research using indicators of biotin deficiency including urinary excretion of biotin and its metabolites, activities of biotin-dependent carboxylases, and urinary excretion of organic acids 1
• Typical dietary biotin intake in Western populations has been estimated to be 35 to 70 μg/day 1

Special Populations with Higher Requirements

Pregnant and Lactating Women

• Pregnant women may benefit from higher biotin intake than the standard 30 μg/day 2
• Breastfeeding mothers should receive at least 35 μg biotin per day 2

Medical Conditions Requiring Higher Doses

• Patients with malabsorption conditions may require significantly higher doses up to 10 mg/day 2
• Those with short bowel syndrome may need therapeutic doses of 10 mg/day 2
• Patients dependent on parenteral nutrition with biotin deficiency may require up to 200 mg/day IV 2

Safety Profile

• Biotin supplementation is considered safe with no adverse effects shown for both oral and IV administration up to 5 mg/day for prolonged periods 2
• Biotin is routinely administered at doses of 30-60 μg/day in enteral and parenteral nutrition without safety concerns 2

Important Clinical Considerations

Laboratory Interference

• High-dose biotin supplementation can interfere with laboratory tests that use biotin-streptavidin technology 3
• This can cause falsely high results in competitive immunoassays (e.g., testosterone, cortisol) and falsely low results in "sandwich" immunoassays (e.g., TSH) 3
• Interference may persist for up to 2 weeks after discontinuation of biotin supplements 3

Absorption

• Humans absorb biotin nearly completely from dietary sources 1
• After oral administration, biotin is rapidly eliminated from plasma with an elimination half-life of approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes 4

High-Dose Therapeutic Uses

• While high-dose biotin (300 mg/day) has been investigated for progressive multiple sclerosis, studies have not demonstrated long-term benefit 5
• High-dose biotin appears safe and well-tolerated but should be used with caution as some patients with neurological conditions may worsen on high doses 5

Monitoring Recommendations

• Women with a history of bariatric surgery should have biotin levels checked every trimester during pregnancy 2
• Monitoring may be warranted in high-risk situations, including individuals with malabsorption conditions or those taking certain medications 2