Living with hypothyroidism can feel like navigating a complicated maze. Sometimes, getting the right nutrients seems like finding a missing puzzle piece. One important nutrient is biotin. Biotin is a B vitamin that dissolves in water and has many benefits for health. It helps keep your skin, hair, and nails healthy. Today, we will explore what are the implications of taking biotin supplementation when you have hypothyroidism.
Biotin: A key member of the Vitamin B Complex
Today's focus is on Biotin, also known as Vitamin B7. Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin, which means it dissolves in water and isn't stored in the body's fatty tissues like Vitamin D. This makes it different from fat-soluble vitamins, which can be stored in the body for later use.
Biotin is important for several reasons. It helps our bodies turn food into energy by aiding enzymes. Specifically, those involved in the metabolism (breakdown and synthesis) of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in the body’s energy cycles. Beyond its role in metabolism, biotin is well-known for its benefits to skin, hair, and nails. Many beauty supplements contain biotin for this reason. In the case of hypothyroidism, where you can have hair loss and nail changes, Biotin may be helpful. Biotin's benefits also go beyond beauty. It is shown to support brain health and plays a key role in cell growth. Although biotin deficiency is rare, its symptoms can be gradual and subtle. Thinning hair, brittle nails, or tiredness (all of which are also seen in hypothyroidism) could indicate a possible biotin deficiency. If you have been taking antibiotics or anti-seizure medication for a long time, then you may have developed a biotin deficiency. In such cases biotin supplementation is helpful. Always consult a healthcare provider before starting biotin supplementation as the American Thyroid Association highlights that biotin can falsely change the result of thyroid blood tests [1].
Enriching our Body with Biotin: The Natural Route
Biotin isn't just found in the glossy tablet bottles on the supplement aisle. Intriguingly, our intestinal bacteria are biotin factories of their own, creating a continuous supply. In addition, it can also be obtained from a spread of nutritious food sources. As it's water-soluble, getting biotin from dietary sources is comparatively innocuous.
You can find biotin in a range of foods such as:
- Beef liver
- Cooked eggs
- Salmon
- Pork chop
- Sunflower seeds
- Sweet potato
- Almonds
- Tuna
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Cheddar cheese
- Milk
- Plain yogurt
- Oatmeal
- Banana
- Apple
Risk & Considerations
While biotin offers many benefits, it also has risks. This is especially true for people using other treatments for conditions like hypothyroidism. It's important to weigh the good against the bad before adding biotin to your routine.
Several scientific studies have illuminated the need for clinicians to understand that biotin intake can lead to significant shifts in readings of various thyroid-related hormones [2]. The real issue isn't just how much biotin you take, but how much biotin is in your blood. Research by A. Paketçi et al. shows that serum biotin levels, not daily intake, significantly affect thyroid function test results [3]. This means how your body processes and stores biotin can impact test outcomes, in addition to the amount of biotin you consume. D. Ylli et al.'s research concluded that awareness amongst physicians is essential to prevent potential misinterpretation of test results due to biotin intake [2]. Before you jump into a thyroid test, biotin is a supplement that’s best left behind. This is because the presence of biotin could lead to an inaccurate reading of T3 and T4 levels, potentially triggering a misdiagnosis [1]. To safeguard the authenticity of your test results, consider parting ways with biotin at least 3-5 days before your thyroid blood tests [1]. To address biotin's interference in thyroid tests, researchers are developing thyroid blood tests that are less sensitive to this interference. These new tests bring hope for solving this common problem [4].
The exploration of the topic doesn't end there. Other blood tests like follicle-stimulating hormone (a sex hormone) or Troponin T (a protein that is mainly used to diagnose heart attacks), can also encounter biotin interference, leading to misleading test results. This further emphasizes the prudence required in interpreting abnormal results in patients using biotin [5].
To keep it all in perspective, Biotin isn't the sole white knight who can conquer hypothyroidism. Instead, it's a part of an inclusive strategy that should be appraised and monitored in conjunction with your healthcare provider.
The Eureka Moment
Managing hypothyroidism may sometimes feel like climbing an uphill mountain. Yet, with a strategic approach and tailored health strategies, the peak can be reached. This is where Eureka steps in, offering free insightful recommendations to enhance thyroid health, informed by understanding mechanisms like the function of biotin and its importance. Change your game with Eureka and embark on a new journey today!
References
- Biotin use can interfere with the management of thyroid diseases, including thyroid cancer. American Thyroid Association. (Accessed: 03 June 2024). Read more.
- Biotin Interference in Assays for Thyroid Hormones, Thyrotropin and Thyroglobulin by D. Ylli et al. (2021). This study details the significant changes in measurements of various thyroid-related hormones and compounds after biotin exposure, emphasizing the need for awareness among physicians regarding potential erroneous test results due to biotin intake. Read more.
- Serum Level of Biotin Rather than the Daily Dosage Is the Main Determinant of Interference on Thyroid Function Assays by A. Paketçi et al. (2019). This research highlights that serum levels of biotin, rather than daily dosage, are a critical factor in the interference observed in thyroid function tests. Read more.
- Biotin interference: evaluation of a new generation of electrochemiluminescent immunoassays for high-sensitive troponin T and thyroid-stimulating hormone testing by Samy Mzougui et al. (2020). The study evaluates newer generation assays that claim reduced sensitivity to biotin interference, providing a potential solution to this widespread issue. Read more.
- Comprehensive assessment of biotin interference in immunoassays by Jieli Li et al. (2018). This study assesses how biotin can interfere with immunoassays, leading to aberrant test results, and emphasizes the need for caution in interpreting abnormal results in patients consuming biotin. Read more.
