Biotin Does Not Affect Ferritin Levels
Biotin (Vitamin B7) supplementation does not directly affect ferritin levels. There is no evidence in the medical literature demonstrating that biotin influences iron metabolism or ferritin production 1.
Understanding Biotin and Ferritin
Biotin (Vitamin B7)
- Water-soluble B-vitamin that functions as a cofactor for carboxylases involved in fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and gluconeogenesis 2
- Not synthesized by human cells but obtained from food and intestinal bacteria 2
- Commonly used as a dietary supplement for skin, nail, and hair health 3
Ferritin
- Primary iron storage protein in the body
- Important biomarker for assessing iron status
- Normal values typically range from 30-300 ng/mL in men and 15-200 ng/mL in women 1
Laboratory Interference Considerations
While biotin doesn't affect actual ferritin levels in the body, it's important to note that biotin supplementation can interfere with laboratory measurements of ferritin and other analytes:
- Biotin can interfere with immunoassays that use biotin-streptavidin technology 3, 4
- This interference can cause:
- Falsely decreased results in sandwich immunoassays
- Falsely increased results in competitive immunoassays 4
- Ferritin is typically measured using sandwich immunoassays, so high biotin levels could potentially cause falsely low ferritin results 4
Clinical Implications
For Accurate Ferritin Testing
- Discontinue biotin supplements 2-3 days before laboratory testing if possible 4
- Inform laboratory personnel about biotin supplementation
- Consider alternative testing methods if biotin interference is suspected
For Iron Status Assessment
- Use multiple parameters to assess iron status, not just ferritin:
- Hemoglobin concentration
- Transferrin saturation
- Complete blood count with red cell indices 1
- In inflammatory conditions, ferritin may be elevated regardless of iron status as it's an acute phase reactant 1
- A combination of transferrin saturation and ferritin provides better diagnostic accuracy 1
Special Considerations
Conditions Affecting Ferritin Interpretation
- Liver disease: Can lead to reduced transferrin synthesis and altered iron parameters 1
- Chronic inflammatory conditions: May cause elevated ferritin despite iron deficiency 1
- Chronic kidney disease: Ferritin may be elevated due to inflammation rather than iron overload 1, 5
Conclusion
While biotin supplementation does not physiologically affect ferritin levels in the body, it can interfere with laboratory measurements of ferritin. For accurate assessment of iron status, it's important to consider potential biotin interference and use multiple parameters beyond just ferritin levels.