The FDA warns that these can distort the results of blood tests and may have contributed to at least one death.
Biotin supplements, also known as vitamin B7, have gained popularity with those seeking strong, healthy hair, skin and nails. But, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently warned that taking biotin supplements can significantly alter the results of medical tests, including anemia, cancer, heart disease , pregnancy and thyroid problems. .
The agency says there has been an increase in the number of adverse events reported, including one death, related to the interference of this vitamin in laboratory tests.
The FDA warning highlights the problem that researchers have pointed out for years. Danni Li, Ph.D., director of clinical chemistry at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, published a study in 2009 that shows that biotin supplements can interfere with the results of medical examinations. Since then Li has been in communication with the FDA, urging the agency to warn the public that the risks can be very serious. "Depending on the type of exam, the consequences can be deadly."
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The reason why taking biotin supplements can lead to a misdiagnosis is because biotin is also used in medical tests to bind with proteins in the blood.
According to the FDA, these proteins are measures to detect many medical conditions.
Lynn Burmeister, MD, an endocrinologist at the University of Minnesota who has studied the effects of biotin with Dr. Li, says it can be difficult to be sure if a particular blood test can be distorted by biotin intake. For this reason, Burmeister suggests that health care providers ask patients if they have taken biotin before performing any blood test.
This is also the advice of the Commission for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the largest commercial group of representatives of dietary supplements. The CRN issued its statement in response to the FDA's warning, clarifying, first, that the FDA has not encountered health problems related to biotin supplements.
"The concerns raised by the FDA are specifically directed at the potential interference with certain laboratory tests." Textually it says the statement of Duffy Mackay, ND, vice president of the CRN. According to the commission, "The most effective and simple way to address these concerns is for health care providers to alert patients to temporarily stop taking their biotin supplements before having their blood tests done."
However, the FDA, in its statement indicates that there is not enough evidence to determine the amount of time necessary for the blood to be free of biotin.
Why do not you need biotin supplements
Although people do need biotin (the daily requirement for adults is 300 micrograms), this vitamin can easily be found in many foods such as egg yolks, fish and nuts. However, biotin supplements may contain 5,000 micrograms, about 16 times more than the daily requirement, or more. In addition, it has not been proven that taking biotin supplements provides quantifiable benefits. There is virtually no evidence that biotin supplements actually improve the skin, hair or nails, "says Marvin M. Lipman. MD, chief medical advisor for Consumer Reports.
What's more, supplements in general are little regulated .
Although these fall under the scope of the FDA, the agency classifies them differently than medicines. The companies that manufacture and sell them are not required to prove that they are safe , if they work the way they are advertised and not even prove that the product contains what the labels say. "Supervision of supplements is virtually non-existent," says Lipman. This makes it difficult to know how much you are actually eating.
Consumers may not be aware of the interference of biotin in laboratory tests because labels have no warning.
The FDA posted a warning on its website which is excellent,
but most consumers will not visit the site, "says Chuck Bell, director of programs for Consumer Union, Consumer Reports' policy and mobilization division. "Supplement manufacturers have an obligation to share this information on the labels of their products and in other media. Better results in health care will be obtained if consumers and providers are informed that medical examinations may be affected by the use of biotin. "
"Everyone should tell their doctors about all the supplements they take, even if their doctor does not ask them," Lipman advises. "If you take biotin supplements, stop doing it at least a week before you get medical exams." And if you have done an exam and are concerned about its results, the FDA suggests that you talk with your healthcare provider about the possibility of biotin interference. They can advise you if more tests should be done.