If you’re even remotely familiar with my products, then you know how much I value the delicate balance between living a healthy lifestyle that suits your personal needs and getting the most out of nutritional supplements—all without spending an unnecessary pocketful of cash for pills that claim to be much more effective than the brands of competitors.
That’s not to say every product on the market is the same, but in terms of biotin, you definitely want to weigh the pros and cons of your options and consider which will be the best match for you. Another thing you need to keep in mind concerning biotin supplements are the effects they can have on your body, and I’m not just referring to the glowing skin and hair benefits.
One little known fact about biotin is that it has the potential to affect the results of blood labs run by your doctor during routine medical care. Yeah, you heard me right – biotin can significantly alter results of blood tests.
Now you might be thinking something along the lines of “gee, that sounds bad” or “guess biotin supplements are off the table for me!” And while you have complete freedom to make the call on whether supplements are the right fit for you or not, let’s get you informed on all the meticulous ins-and-outs concerning the fascinating little vitamin that is biotin.
Continue reading to learning more about the following topics:
- Why blood tests are a crucial part of medical care
- How biotin can cause blood test distortions
- Other possible side effects of biotin
Accurate Blood Work is a Crucial Part of Your Health
There Are Many Reasons to Get Blood Tests
I cannot stress how important keeping your health in check is. There are many individuals who make excuses to avoid visits to the doctor, and while you definitely aren’t required to enjoy the ordeal, outright neglecting your health because of it can be extremely dangerous. That’s why you should get into the habit of having routine blood work done to ensure your organs are functioning as expected and not causing any unwanted health concerns.
Some of the benefits of getting blood tests include the following:
- Preemptive diagnoses of conditions before symptoms or medical complications develop
- Safeguard healthy physiology and organ functionality
- Gives insight into the risk status for developing disease and health conditions
- Helps check to see if treatment is succeeding
- Monitors the progression of chronic conditions
Your primary care physician may order a blood test for a number of different reasons that can relate to your medical and family history, lifestyle, or age. If your doctor requests that you get blood work done, never be afraid to ask for clarification to determine why it is needed. It may very well be the case that you simply need tests run for general wellness purposes, so there’s no need to stress out over the prospect.
Remember, your doctor has your best interests in mind. Trust their judgment and communicate with them as needed concerning any worries you may have.
Why Biotin Affects Blood Tests
The Tricky Relationship Between Biotin and Blood Work
Now that you’re aware of the importance of getting blood tests done to help monitor your health and keep all of your anatomical functions in order, I must bring up our main subject of concern for this article: the unwanted impacts that abundant biotin intake has on blood test results.
How does this happen? Well, the rising popularity of biotin as a dietary supplement has led to overconsumption of the vitamin, increasing its presence throughout the body. It is recommended that the typical adult receives 30 mcg of biotin a day for optimal health and wellness, which is usually obtained naturally through balanced meals.
However, many over-the-counter medications and supplements contain a much higher dose of this micronutrient than is recommended. This has pushed the average intake of biotin in Western diets to fall around 35 to 70 mcg per day, which can end up being more than half of the suggested amount.
Regularly ingesting high doses of biotin causes interference with the biotin-streptavidin system that is utilized in many immunoassays, which are commonplace during blood screenings. Depending on the type of immunoassay taking place, excessive amounts of biotin in the system can yield false results that are either higher or lower than they actually are.
This presents a problem when testing is performed to determine a patient’s risk status for certain disease or medical disorders. Lab tests for conditions like heart disease and hyperthyroidism, both of which depend on the antibodies that utilize the binding between the protein streptavidin and biotin to detect the presence of low analyte levels.
In a study conducted by researchers at UMN Medical School, it was revealed that incorporating biotin supplements into your diet can disrupt diagnostic and blood tests. Blood samples with an excessive amount of biotin present can interfere with the biotinylated components used in these tests, causing complications by making the results inaccurate.
Other Potential Side Effects of Taking Biotin
The impacts of high doses of biotin on blood work is our main point of concern, but let’s not overshadow the other possible health repercussions that come alongside routine biotin supplement consumption. Let’s go over some common side effects you might see when regularly taking these supplements.
Acne
Though many people take biotin for its positive reputation as a skin enhancer, a lesser known fact about the vitamin might come as a shock. Consuming high doses of biotin can actually result in developing more acne than you had previously. There is no guarantee that biotin will cause acne if you regularly take it, but you should be aware that it is definitely a possibility.
The reason biotin may cause acne rests within your gastrointestinal system’s ability to absorb vital nutrients during the digestive process. Your body absorbs biotin in the same manner that it absorbs another type of vitamin that works to deter acne from developing, known as vitamin B5.
When you ingest too much biotin, you end up getting stuck with a system that’s been overloaded with an abundance of nutrients that are unable to be effectively absorbed by your body. That means you get less of the acne-fighting vitamin B5, which can unfortunately lead to the formation of cystic acne on certain parts of your body.
While cystic acne does not pose a health risk, it can be painful and cause issues related to your self-confidence, which might negate the initial reasons you had for taking biotin supplements. Talk with your doctor if you have any concerns regarding acne and how you can avoid it.
Allergic Reactions and Skin Rash
Allergies are no new concept, and the same holds true for biotin supplements. Your immune system may detect the biotin in your system as a foreign substance and react accordingly, which can result in developing a rash, nausea, or even facial swelling. Mild symptoms may not issue much concern, but if they persist and you do not seek medical attention, these symptoms can become dangerous.
Most skin rashes form due to having an allergic reaction to the biotin vitamin, but be aware that they can also occur as a result of a biotin overdose. I recommend consulting with your primary doctor so you do not accidentally ingest too much biotin.
Gut Issues
Biotin can also have undesirable effects on the digestive system, causing problems in your stomach. You may experience nausea and diarrhea when you consume a lot of biotin. Keep your digestive health in mind as you choose which supplements you want to take.
What You Should Consider Before Purchasing Biotin Supplements
The Value of Nutrition
A steadily rising number of adults in the U.S. are turning to supplements to obtain the recommended dosage of nutrients that your body requires on a daily basis for optimal functionality. Busy schedules and hours spent outside the house mean less time reserved for intensive meal planning, which warrants the need for more options that tend to forsake nutrition for the sake of convenience, such as fast food.
There is nothing inherently wrong when it comes to using supplements to meet the nutritional needs of your body; in fact, supplements are a fantastic way to ensure your quality of health stays high without stressing too much about your next meal. Not everything you put in your body is going to be great for you in terms of sustaining wellness, so supplements serve as a hassle-free way to ingest important vitamins and minerals.
If you happen to be someone who doesn’t experience much of a hassle when it comes to getting the necessary amounts of your daily nutrients and generally partakes in healthy, well-balanced meals, then you’re most likely getting a sufficient amount of biotin regularly in your diet.
The new Multi Collagen Plus Biotin and Vitamin D dietary supplements by Dr. Emil Nutrition help you get the results you want exactly when you want them with high dose capsules. If you don’t want to take in too much biotin in one serving, you can always reduce the dose by a fraction or two.
What You Personally Want Out of a Daily Supplement
What you put in your body is important, and that goes for supplements too. Make a decision that is going to be personally beneficial for your lifestyle. You should never pick a supplement without doing basic research on its effects beforehand so you understand what to expect.
Everyone is a unique person with independent health goals they strive to reach at the pace best suited for their needs. With this in mind, I created my own formula suited to the realistic expectations of everyday people. My new Multi Collagen Plus Biotin and Vitamin D dietary supplements combine biotin and collagen together to get the amino acids required by your body to produce keratin, a structural protein that benefits your skin, nails, and hair. The presence of vitamin D pairs well with collagen to strengthen mobility and support healthy joints by promoting the absorption of calcium, a mineral that is essential in sustaining bone and muscle health.
Remember to be mindful of the potential side effects that come with taking biotin supplements and to always keep your doctor informed about what you take. At the end of the day, your health journey should be one that makes you feel good about yourself. If you decide to take supplements, get the ones that will best support you in your efforts.
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