Biotin is a B vitamin soluble in water, specifically referred to as vitamin B-7.
The biotin serves as a coenzyme in the human body, which means that it helps to carry out the biochemical processes necessary to the metabolism of carbohydrates and fatty acids.
In addition to its cosmetic benefits, the biotin has also been studied for its potential metabolic effects. It has been shown that biotin affects the normal homeostasis of glucose, the uptake of glucose in skeletal muscle, insulin secretion, and the presence of fat and cholesterol in the blood.
A study conducted in 2006 investigated the effect of supplementation of biotin on the levels of plasma triglyceride, cholesterol, glucose and insulin in individuals with diabetes non-diabetic.
The researchers observed a significant reduction in triglycerides in the blood, and the lipoprotein very low density (VLDL), a type of bad cholesterol that contains the most amount of fat compared to all other forms of cholesterol. The levels of triglycerides in the blood have been linked to storage of fat, the less fat in the blood, in theory, should be available less fat for storage in adipose tissue.
The biotin can not be used directly by the body to produce energy, but has been linked to a greater use of carbohydrate and a biotin deficiency has been linked to a reduced activity of glucokinase.
Glucokinase is a key enzyme of the glycolysis, the biochemical process that allows our body to use carbohydrates as fuel. One study that used a rat model attributed to a deficiency of biotin is a decrease of 40-45% of the activity of the glucokinase.
If this model is true in humans, anyone who has low levels of biotin would be less suitable to use carbohydrates as energy during a workout.
The integration of biotin could help you to take full advantage of the carbs that you have stored in your muscle and liver in the form of glycogen, allowing you to make long training sessions.
Who should take biotin?
The deficiency of biotin is linked to the thinning of hair in both men and women. The integration of 10-30 milligrams of biotin per day can help to minimise the effects of thinning hair a lack of biotin.
