An Introduction to Biotin Dosage
The recommended
biotin dose can vary, depending on several factors. Women who are breastfeeding need a higher intake of biotin, and higher biotin doses are sometimes recommended for people who have specific medical conditions.
Biotin Dietary Reference Intakes
For many nutrients, the International Institute of Medicine provides Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) and Tolerable Upper Limit (UL) guidelines. However, if there is not enough information to determine RDA and UL guidelines, only general guidelines, called Adequate Intake (AI) guidelines, are provided. For biotin, only Adequate Intake guidelines are available. Refer to the following table for AI guidelines for biotin:
|
Age
|
Biotin Adequate Intake
|
|
Infants (0 to 6 months)
|
5 mcg per day
|
|
Infants (7 to 12 months)
|
6 mcg per day
|
|
1-3 years
|
8 mcg per day
|
|
4-8 years
|
12 mcg per day
|
|
9-13 years
|
20 mcg per day
|
|
14-18 years
|
25 mcg per day
|
|
19 years and older
|
30 mcg per day
|
|
Pregnant women
|
30 mcg per day
|
|
Breastfeeding women
|
35 mcg per day
|
Most people are able to meet their requirement for biotin through food. However, a higher intake of biotin may be recommended in certain situations, such as:
- Biotinidase deficiency (a genetic disorder)
- Chronic use of certain seizure medications or antibiotics (see Biotin Drug Interactions)
- Consumption of large quantities of raw egg whites (which contain a substance that causes biotin depletion)
- Kidney dialysis
- IV feedings (known as total parenteral nutrition or TPN) that do not contain biotin.
