Biotin

Biotin/Nutrient Depletion:

  • AnticonvulsantsAnticonvulsants: In human research, excretion of the biotin metabolite bisnorbiotin increased in children receiving long-term treatment with carbamazepine, phenytoin, or phenobarbital, suggesting accelerated biotin catabolism (71). Accelerated catabolism may lead to biotin deficiency. Based on secondary sources, primidone (Mysoline?) and possibly valproic acid have been associated with reduced blood levels of biotin.
  • Avidin: Avidin: Avidin is a protein in egg white that binds biotin with a Kd of 10-15M, preventing its absorption (75; 76). Consumption of large amounts of raw egg white over months results in biotin deficiency in humans (74; 1). Denaturation of avidin, e.g., by heating or cooking, destroys avidin's biotin-binding capacity.
  • CarbamazepineCarbamazepine: In human research, excretion of the biotin metabolite bisnorbiotin increased in children receiving long-term treatment with carbamazepine, phenytoin, or phenobarbital, suggesting accelerated biotin catabolism (71). Accelerated catabolism may lead to biotin deficiency.
  • IsotretinoinIsotretinoin: Results of human research suggest that isotretinoin (Roaccutane?) reduces biotinidase activity (73). Reduced biotinidase activity may lead to biotin deficiency.
  • Lipoic acidLipoic acid: Biotin shares the sodium-dependent multivitamin transporter (SMVT) with lipoic acid. According to a review, theoretically this may reduce biotin absorption (101; 1).
  • PhenobarbitalPhenobarbital: In human research, excretion of the biotin metabolite bisnorbiotin increased in children receiving long-term treatment with carbamazepine, phenytoin, or phenobarbital, suggesting accelerated biotin catabolism (71). Accelerated catabolism may lead to biotin deficiency.
  • PhenytoinPhenytoin: In human research, excretion of the biotin metabolite bisnorbiotin increased in children receiving long-term treatment with carbamazepine, phenytoin, or phenobarbital, compared to healthy controls, suggesting accelerated biotin catabolism (71). Accelerated catabolism may lead to biotin deficiency.
  • PrimidonePrimidone: Accelerated catabolism may lead to biotin deficiency. Based on secondary sources, primidone (Mysoline?) has been associated with reduced blood levels of biotin.
  • Valproic acidValproic acid: Based on secondary sources, valproic acid may have been associated with reduced blood levels of biotin.
  • Vitamin B5Vitamin B5: Biotin shares the sodium-dependent multivitamin transporter (SMVT) with vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) (102). According to a review, theoretically this may reduce biotin absorption (101; 1). According to a review, biotin deficiency may be exacerbated by vitamin B5 deficiency (103). In a case report, potentially life-threatening eosinophilic pleuropericarditis was observed in a 76 year-old woman who had been taking vitamin B5 and biotin for two months. Once the vitamins were withdrawn, the eosinophilia disappeared and the patient recovered (104).