Vitamin B7 (Biotin)
B7 (biotin) is water soluble and so a constant supply is needed from the diet.
Good sources of B7 include:
common foods such a brown rice, pasta and bread, oily fish, eggs, nuts, and cauliflower contains very high amounts.
The key functions of vitamin B7 or biotin are:
- facilitates many chemical reactions and therefore numerous essential processes in the body do not function without it.
- involved in the breakdown of fats, carbohydrates and protein and their use as energy.
- protection of nerves and skin as well as the growth of healthy hair.
- contributes to the production and usage of glucose
- healthy hair, skin and nails.
Deficiency is rare, can occur in people on very low calorie weight-loss programmes and those on long term antibiotics.