Biotin: When to Take It & How to Track It
Also called: Vitamin B7, Vitamin H
By MagdaLast updated
What is Biotin?
Biotin is a B vitamin that helps the body turn food into energy. It is found in eggs, meat, fish, seeds, nuts and some vegetables, and true deficiency is rare. Biotin is widely sold in hair, skin and nail supplements, often in amounts far higher than the body needs. The main practical issue is not when you take it but that high-dose biotin can interfere with some laboratory tests and give false results. That makes a record of when you took biotin useful to share with your doctor or the lab before blood work.
When to take Biotin: general timing information
Biotin above recommended amounts may cause false results in some lab tests, including tests for hormones such as thyroid hormone. [1]
The FDA has warned that biotin interference can cause falsely low troponin results, a test used to help diagnose heart attacks. [2]
Taking antiseizure medicines for a year or more can lower biotin levels. [1]
Biotin appears in many multivitamins, prenatal vitamins and hair, skin and nail products, so check every label you take. [2]
How to set a Biotin reminder in Pillzy
Tap + in Pillzy and add your biotin or hair, skin and nail product with the dose on the label.
Choose Once daily and pick a time you will remember.
Add a note saying "tell the lab before blood tests".
Before any blood test, open your history to see exactly when you last took it and share that with your doctor.
Frequently asked questions
Should I stop biotin before a blood test?
Biotin can affect some lab tests, including thyroid tests and troponin. Tell your doctor and the lab that you take it, and ask them whether and how long to pause it before your test.
Does biotin help hair growth?
Biotin is heavily marketed for hair, but deficiency is rare. Ask your doctor before taking high doses for hair, especially because of the lab test interference.