Biotin is an essential water-soluble B vitamin. Without biotin, certain enzymes do not work properly, and complications can occur involving the skin, intestinal tract, and nervous system. Biotin has many uses, including cell growth, the production of fatty acids, and the metabolism of fats and proteins. It also plays a role in the Kreb cycle, which is the process in which energy is released from food. Biotin is important for healthy hair, skin, sweat glands, nerve tissue, and bone marrow. Biotin deficiency is rare because it is found in many foods such as cheese, beef liver, cauliflower, eggs, mushrooms, chicken breasts, salmon, spinach, and nuts. It can also be manufactured in the body when needed. Symptoms of deficiency are dry scaly skin, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, depression, tongue inflammation, and high cholesterol.
