biotin facts patient

 

Can taking health and beauty supplements impact my lab test results?

 

Here’s what you need to know.

It is important to communicate about ALL supplements to your physician prior to a blood draw including health and beauty supplements that promote hair, skin, and nail health.

biotin capsule

You may have heard that biotin promotes healthier hair, skin, and nails, but what is it?

 

In some cases, people have started taking large quantities of biotin supplements because they have heard it can make hair and nails grow faster, although scientific studies have not proven this to be the case. Biotin may also be called vitamin B7 or vitamin H. However, you probably recognize biotin as a supplement that is readily available over the counter at major retail establishments across the country.

Our goal is to help you understand biotin, provide guidance on how to prepare for blood draws in the event you are taking biotin, and provide access to resources and frequently asked questions.

Education is power

 

If you take the standard multivitamin dose (30 to 60 micrograms or mcg) of biotin, it poses no risk of interfering with your test results. However, very high doses (more than 5,000 mcg per day) can potentially lead to test interference. Popular hair, skin and nail supplements often include higher doses, so make sure to check the bottle if you take these.

Because biotin deficiency is very rare, there’s no official recommended daily intake for biotin in the U.S.  Suggested intake for adults ranges from 30 to 100 mcg per day.

How can I confirm if the multivitamins, hair, skin and nail supplements, or other supplements I am taking contain biotin?

 

We recommend that you review the labeling of your supplement(s) to confirm if they contain biotin. The biotin could be in the form of vitamin B7 or Vitamin H in the labeling. If you do confirm there is biotin present, always let your healthcare professional know the exact supplements you are taking, for what purpose, your dosage and when it was last taken.

For guidance, some of the items we recommend that you check include your prescriptions, over-the-counter medications and multivitamins or supplements. With routine testing, skewed results due to biotin intake can be preventable if you stop taking biotin prior to testing. Please follow your doctor’s recommendations on when to stop taking biotin before a test.

 

I'm taking biotin and have a blood draw coming up. What should I do?

 

As mentioned above, if you are taking any supplements or medications please confirm if biotin is present by reviewing the labeling.  If biotin is present, please follow your doctor’s recommendations on how you should appropriately prepare prior to your blood test.

Learn more about biotin and the potential impact biotin has on test results from these industry resources.