The amount of biotin suggested for hair growth usually ranges between 100 - 1,000 micrograms (mcg) daily, but this number varies based on your body's reaction to biotin.
Takeaway. Your body makes enough biotin on its own through your dietary intake each day. Therefore, you shouldn't take biotin supplements unless directed by your doctor. There are some rare health conditions that can cause some people to need biotin supplements on a regular basis.
Current recommendations for biotin by the Institute of Medicine state that the daily adequate intake (AI) for adults is 30 μg/day [1]. Most healthy individuals meet these requirements through a well-balanced diet, though many still take up to 500–1,000 μg of biotin supplementation daily.
How fast does biotin work for hair growth? Research pertaining to how quickly vitamins work in the body is limited, however, we have found that some begin to see and experience benefits approximately 30 days after you start taking biotin. It may take up to 90 days or longer for some individuals.
Increasing your intake of biotin may help make your hair stronger and more resistant to falling out. Biotin is a common over-the-counter supplement that is touted to promote healthy hair growth.
Regular intake of excessive quantities of certain nutrients can cause hair loss in some cases due to a temporary condition known as Telogen Effluvium. However, the effects of too much vitamin B7 - also known as biotin toxicity - remain unconfirmed.
Recommended dosage
However, according to estimates, an intake of 30 micrograms (mcg) may be adequate. The average intake of biotin in Western countries, excluding the United States, is an estimated 35–70 mcg per day.
The bottom line. There's no strong evidence to support using biotin for hair growth or to prevent hair loss in people without a deficiency. Because hair thinning and poor hair growth are sometimes associated with a biotin deficiency, correcting a deficiency can help restore hair growth in some people.
Mayo Clinic states that 10,000 mcg is a safe dose, as no adverse side effects have been noted to date. Reassuringly, even “mega doses” of 300,000 mcg found no side effects in neurological research.
According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, which is a part of the National Institutes of Health, there's no evidence that biotin is toxic to humans. Studies have found that biotin doesn't produce adverse effects even at doses of 10 to 50mg per day. With this said, it's generally best not to take too much biotin.
No side effects have been reported for biotin in amounts up to 10 milligrams a day. However, check with your health care professional if you notice any unusual effects while you are taking it.
No, there is no evidence to suggest taking biotin supplements can lead to weight gain. In fact, biotin is sometimes touted as a weight-loss supplement.
Adults and teenagers—30 to 100 micrograms (mcg) per day. Children 7 to 10 years of age—30 mcg per day. Children 4 to 6 years of age—25 mcg per day. Children birth to 3 years of age—10 to 20 mcg per day.
If no home remedies work for your hair loss, use a daily biotin supplement for at least 6 months to start seeing results.
If you are experiencing thinning or balding, our Bosley experts recommend washing no more than three times a week.
When taken by mouth: Biotin is likely safe for most people when taken in doses up to 300 mg daily for up to 6 months. But it is more commonly used in lower doses of 2.5 mg daily.
“Vitamins are essential for healthy hair growth and may help in preventing hair shedding and thinning,” says Michele Green, M.D., a cosmetic dermatologist in New York. “The best vitamins for hair growth include B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, biotin and iron.
Sources of Biotin
Foods that contain the most biotin include organ meats, eggs, fish, meat, seeds, nuts, and certain vegetables (such as sweet potatoes) [2,12].
If you have a condition that's associated with biotin status, such as alopecia or intestinal malabsorption of biotin due to a variety of factors, supplementing with the nutrient may improve hair and beard growth, though it has limited effectiveness in healthy men ( 9 ).
There's no evidence that biotin can cause weight gain or weight loss. The best way to get biotin is through your diet, by eating biotin-rich foods.
Biotin can affect the blood test results (TSH levels). It can also affect tests for heart failure, pregnancy, cancer, and iron deficiency anemia. Recently, biotin was shown to interfere with testing for vitamin D levels.