Best Biotin Supplements Reviewed and Compared
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Biotin is also known as vitamin B7 or vitamin H. It’s an essential vitamin for good health, and not getting enough can lead to symptoms such as hair loss, brittle nails, and rashes. As such, it’s not surprising that many people turn to biotin supplements to maintain healthy hair, nails, and skin.
But, as is the case with all dietary supplements, not all biotin products are created equally. There are differences in quality, dosage, form, ingredients, and more. This raises the question – how do you choose the best biotin supplement when there are so many options?
Somebody may be looking for a low price, vegetarian-friendly biotin supplement, while someone else could want biotin in a pleasant-to-take form like gummies. We’ve taken this into account by reviewing the best biotin supplements with different features to make sure you can find the high-quality biotin supplement that fits you best.
- NOW Foods
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Our rating - High Quality
- Price: See Here
- Amazing Nutrition
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Our rating - Great Price
- Price: See Here
- Vitafusion
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Our rating - Pleasant Taste
- Price: See Here
In this guide, we are first going to review the top 10 biotin supplements and talk about what makes them unique. Next, we will discuss everything you need to know when buying and taking biotin products to help you make an informed decision.
10 Best Biotin Supplements
1. NOW Foods
Ingredients
Every bottle contains 120 vegetarian capsules with 10,000 mcg of biotin each. These capsules are non-GMO, vegetarian-friendly, and do not contain gluten, soy, or other common allergens.
Who it’s for
This supplement is ideal for people looking for a high dose of biotin for supporting its roles in the body, such as energy metabolism. In addition, it can also be taken to support healthy skin, hair, and nails.
Quality
This biotin supplement also stands out for being manufactured by a brand that adheres to the highest quality standards. Most notably, NOW Foods is one of the only supplement manufacturers that operate their own laboratories for testing ingredients and finished products. In addition, they have consistently maintained an ‘A’ Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) rating from a third-party (NPA) audit.
Value
Another great feature of NOW Foods Biotin is its value. It provides a large total supply of biotin at a competitive price, especially when we consider NOW’s high quality.
Brand
Launched 50 years ago, NOW Foods is one of the most trusted and established American supplement brands. The company is known for thorough in-house testing and other industry-leading standards. In addition, NOW contributes to multiple American and worldwide charities and promotes environmental sustainability.
- Free of additives and major allergens
- Vegetarian-friendly & non-GMO
- Made in the U.S.
- Third-party (NPA) GMP-certified
- In-house laboratory tested for quality, potency, and safety
- Affordable
- Award-winning, established brand
- Not ideal for people who don’t like swallowing capsules
2. Amazing Nutrition
Ingredients
Each bottle of Amazing Nutrition Biotin contains 200 biotin (10,000 mcg) capsules made out of gelatin (an animal product). This is a much higher serving count than most biotin products, ensuring that the supplement will last you a long time. In addition, it’s is free of all additives and major allergens such as gluten.
Who it’s for
The intended use of this biotin product is healthier skin, nails, and hair. In addition, it also supports biotin’s role in energy metabolism.
Quality
Another great feature of this biotin supplement is its quality. It is made in the U.S. and third-party tested to ensure a high standard of manufacturing and safety.
Value
Moreover, Amazing Nutrition biotin stands out for its great value. Despite having a price tag similar to most biotin products, it contains a significantly higher total amount of biotin.
Brand
As for the brand itself, Amazing Nutrition is a company that focuses on vitamins and supplements without additives and preservatives. All of their products are tested for potency and purity and made in the USA.
- High number of servings per bottle
- Free of additives and major allergens
- Made in the U.S.
- Third-party tested for quality
- Great price
- Not vegetarian (contains gelatin)
3. Vitafusion
Ingredients
Each bottle of Vitafusion’s Biotin has 100 blueberry-flavored gummies containing 2,500 mcg of biotin. As a result, this product has great taste and makes taking supplements feel more like a treat and less like a chore. In fact, it even received a Chef’s Best Excellence Award for its delicious, natural taste. In addition, the gummies are free of all artificial flavors, sweeteners, and coloring, and do not contain any gluten or high-fructose corn syrup.
Who it’s for
Vitafusion’s biotin is most commonly taken to support hair, skin, and nail health, as well as to ensure you have enough biotin to maintain its energy metabolism functions.
Quality
Another key advantage of this biotin supplement is the fact that Vitafusion specializes in making gummy vitamins. As such, you know you’re getting the highest quality biotin gummy product available.
Value
The only major drawback of this product is the cost; compared to similarly priced supplements, you get a much smaller total amount of biotin (250,000 mcg or 250 mg). However, this is to be expected given the convenience of gummies.
Brand
Vitafusion is a brand that focuses on making tasty, nutritious gummy vitamins. They are also notable for partnering with the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation to plant 200,000 fruit trees for underserved communities across the U.S. by 2020 to help people get their daily recommended amount of fruit.
- Pleasant, award-winning taste
- Convenient
- Easier to control dosage with 2,500 mcg gummies
- Gluten and high-fructose corn syrup-free
- Free of artificial additives
- Higher price
- Smaller biotin supply
4. Pure Encapsulations
Ingredients
Each bottle contains 60 capsules with 8 mg (8,000 mcg) of biotin each, which is slightly lower than the 10 mg found in most supplements. The key characteristic of this biotin product is that it contains nothing except pure biotin and the hypoallergic, plant-based vegetarian capsule it comes in.
Who it’s for
Like most biotin products, this supplement is meant for improving hair, skin, and nail health, as well as supporting biotin’s role in energy metabolism.
Quality
In terms of quality, Pure Encapsulations is known for sourcing all of its raw ingredients from trusted, qualified suppliers in the U.S., France, Japan, Switzerland, and other countries. Their raw materials and finished products are tested for purity and potency by independent laboratories, and manufactured in a state-of-the-art facility in Sudbury, Massachusetts.
Value
As we would expect, the price for Pure Encapsulations biotin is significantly higher than most biotin products. In fact, you can get two times more total biotin for the same price with some other brands. However, this product still offers great value because the increased price tag goes towards ensuring nothing but pure biotin of the highest quality.
Brand
Pure Encapsulations is a company that focuses on providing hypoallergic supplements that contain only the pure nutrients you need. All of their ingredients are GMO-free and do not contain any major allergens or extra ingredients such as artificial flavoring, fillers, and coatings. In addition, the company has a strict focus on quality with multiple certifications and independent product testing.
- Hypoallergic (no gluten or other major allergens)
- Vegetarian-friendly & non-GMO
- Made in the U.S.
- Third-party (NSF) GMP-certified
- Independently tested
- Sourced from quality suppliers
- Higher price
- Small pack
5. Natrol
Ingredients
Each bottle contains 60 fast-dissolve, strawberry-flavored tablets providing 10,000 mcg of biotin. These tablets are relatively small, can dissolve on the tongue, don’t require water, and have a pleasant taste.
Who it’s for
As with most biotin supplements, the main use of Natrol’s biotin is promoting healthy hair, skin, and nails. It can also be used to promote biotin’s role in energy metabolism.
Quality
In terms of quality, Natrol is known to test their ingredients for purity and potency before, during, and after manufacturing of their supplements.
Value
In addition, this biotin product has a relatively low price without compromising quality. However, it does cost slightly more than Natrol’s unflavored biotin tablets.
Brand
As a supplement brand, Natrol has been around for more than 35 years. They have consistently held the highest ‘A’ rating from the Natural Products Association (NPA) – the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the natural product industry.
- Affordable
- Vegetarian-friendly
- Pleasant strawberry taste
- Small tablets that can be chewed
- Not gluten-free (contains wheat)
- Higher price than unflavored version
6. Sports Research
Ingredients
Each bottle has 120 non-GMO, vegetarian softgels containing 10,000 mcg of biotin with cold-pressed, organic, virgin coconut oil. In addition, it is free of additives and major allergens, such as gluten and dairy.
Who it’s for
This supplement is meant for supporting hair, skin, and nail health, and can also be used to support healthy metabolism by ensuring sufficient biotin levels.
Quality
The quality of Sports Research biotin is apparent with in-house tests for purity, as well as independent, third-party laboratory testing.
Value
Although this product is a bit more expensive than most biotin supplements, it still provides good value. This is especially true when we consider that it contains coconut oil, which is not found in other biotin products.
Brand
Sports Nutrition is a family-operated fitness & supplement company that has been around since 1980. All of their products are made in the U.S., and tested by a third party to ensure quality.
- Includes coconut oil for better absorption
- Coconut oil has multiple health benefits
- Vegetarian-friendly & non-GMO
- Made in the U.S.
- Third-party tested for quality
- Gluten-free
- Slightly higher price
7. SBR Nutrition
Ingredients
Each bottle contains 30 ml of liquid, with 10,000 mcg biotin per dropper. This supplement also contains natural vanilla flavors and Stevia leaf extract for improved taste, vegetable glycerin, and organic grape alcohol. The flavoring helps mask the alcohol taste, although some people might still find it a tad too strong. This supplement is vegetarian-friendly, non-GMO, and does not contain common allergens such as gluten.
Who it’s for
Most people take this biotin product in ½ dropper doses (5,000 mcg) to support skin, hair, and nail health, as well as energy metabolism.
Quality
In terms of quality, SBR’s biotin is notable for being made in the USA.
Value
When you consider that you only get 30-60 doses per bottle, SBR’s liquid biotin is somewhat expensive. But that is the price of taking a liquid supplement when most alternatives are tablets and softgels.
Brand
Whereas some companies make both liquid and solid supplements, SBR Nutrition specializes in liquid products only. Because of this, they are one of the best choices for liquid biotin.
- Liquid form for faster absorption
- Easy to control dosage with drops
- Vegetarian-friendly & non-GMO
- Free of common allergens
- Significantly higher price
- Some may find the alcohol taste too strong
- Smaller biotin supply
8. Nutricost
Ingredients
Each Nutricost biotin bottle contains 240 gluten-free, non-GMO, gelatin (animal product) capsules with 10,000 mcg biotin. This is one of the largest amounts of biotin provided by any supplement, especially when we consider the affordable price. However, these capsules are large and some people may find them uncomfortable to swallow.
Who it’s for
As with most biotin products, the main use of this supplement is to support skin, nail, and hair health, and to maintain sufficient biotin levels for its role in energy metabolism.
Quality
Despite its low price, Nutricost biotin still maintains a good level of quality. It is made in the U.S. and tested by an independent third party to verify its quality and safety.
Value
Most importantly, Nutricost biotin stands out for its high value. Although its price is quite similar to many biotin products, it contains a much larger total amount of biotin.
Brand
In terms of the brand, Nutricost is a fairly new American company that offers a wide range of supplements, including vitamins, nootropics, herbs, and sports nutrition products. Their supplements are notable for containing very few ingredients outside of the nutrient of choice and being among the most affordable on the market.
- Bargain price for a large supply
- Non-GMO & gluten-free
- Made in the U.S.
- Third-party tested
- Large capsules can be particularly hard to swallow
- Not vegetarian (contains gelatin)
9. Nature’s Bounty
Ingredients
Nature’s Bounty contains 120 rapid release gelatin (non-vegetarian) softgels with a dose of 10,000 mcg each. Like most biotin supplements, it is free of additives and common allergens such as gluten.
Who it’s for
Nature’s Bounty biotin is taken to support skin, hair, and nail health, and to support healthy metabolism by maintaining optimal biotin levels.
Quality
In terms of quality, this biotin supplement stands out for being manufactured in the U.S. and tested in a laboratory to ensure potency and safety.
Value
Another great feature of Nature’s Bounty biotin is its value. Compared to other biotin supplements, it provides the high 10,000 mcg dose with 120 total softgels at a relatively low price.
Brand
Nature’s Bounty is an established American supplement brand with nearly five decades of history. Its commitment to quality is highlighted by testing all of their raw ingredients and finished products for purity and potency.
- Affordable
- Free of additives and major allergens
- Made in the U.S.
- Certified and tested for quality and safety
- Can have an unpleasant odor
- Not vegetarian (contains gelatin)
10. Solaray
Ingredients
Solaray Biotin contains 100 orange-flavored sublingual lozenges with 1,000 mcg of biotin each. Other ingredients include sorbitol, natural orange flavoring, natural carotene coloring, cellulose, silica, and magnesium stearate.
Who it’s for
Like other biotin supplements, this product is mostly taken to help maintain healthy nails and hair and support biotin’s role in energy production. However, because its dose is significantly smaller, Solaray’s biotin is favored by people who are worried about acne and other side effects of high-dose biotin supplementation.
Quality
In terms of quality, all of the Solaray’s products are made in a state-of-the-art facility and pass through in-house laboratory testing for potency, purity, and safety. In addition, Solaray also adheres to the standards set by the U.S. Pharmacopeia and National Formulary (USP-NF).
Value
Another great feature of Solaray’s biotin is its affordable price. Although it is not as cost-effective as buying a biotin supplement with larger doses, it still provides good value to someone who wants to take a smaller dose.
Brand
Established in 1973 in Utah, Solaray is one of the leading American supplement brands. They offer nearly 1,000 different products, including vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts, and specialty ingredients.
- Small dose is for people worried about side effects
- Pleasant orange taste
- Vegetarian-friendly
- No artificial coloring or added sugar
- Made in the U.S.
- In-house laboratory tested for quality, potency, and safety
- Dose may be too low for maximum hair and nail benefits
- Not as cost-effective as higher doses
Everything You Need to Know about Biotin Supplements
Now that we have covered best biotin supplements, let’s discuss everything you need to know about biotin supplementation. The first and most important question is why biotin supplements are taken in the first place.
Biotin supplements are used to increase the body’s levels of biotin (vitamin B7) – one of eight water-soluble B vitamins. This group still includes thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid (B9), and cobalamin (B12). All B vitamins help the body produce energy from food.
Biotin’s main role is to aid enzymes that break down and utilize carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. These effects not only play an important role in energy production (metabolism) but also nervous system, cognitive, hair, skin, and nail health.
Why People Take Biotin Supplements
There are several reasons why people take biotin supplements. The first reason is to prevent or treat biotin deficiency. The second – and most popular reason – is to promote healthy hair, skin, and nails, and some men also take biotin to improve beard growth.
This popular use is supported by the fact that biotin deficiency is known to cause hair loss & thinning, brittle nails, and skin rashes. (1) In addition, some human studies report that biotin supplementation can treat hair thinning & loss, and brittle nails. (2, 3, 4)
However, we should also note that a recent review of biotin’s use for hair and nail health concluded that these benefits may only happen in people who are biotin deficient. (5)
Aside from the above, there are several less-common uses of biotin. For example, some diabetics take biotin with chromium to lower blood sugar levels. This use is backed by several human studies. (6, 7)
Another research-supported, diabetes-related use of biotin is improving diabetic neuropathy – nerve damage that is caused by diabetes. (8)
Finally, some people with multiple sclerosis (MS) take biotin because of early evidence showing it helps produce myelin – the fatty substance surrounding nerves that becomes damaged in MS. (9)
Biotin Supplement Active Ingredient
The main active ingredient in biotin supplements is biotin itself, also sometimes called d-biotin (the naturally-occurring, active form) on supplement labels.
Biotin Supplement Forms
Most biotin supplements come in the form of tablets, capsules, and softgels, although gummy, liquid, lozenge, and powder forms are also used.
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Biotin tablet supplements
Biotin tablets have several advantages: they are cheap, can be split into smaller doses, and some can be chewed. However, if you don’t like swallowing pills, non-chewed tablets can be bothersome.
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Biotin capsule & softgel supplements
Similar to tablets, biotin capsules and softgels are also relatively cheap but can be difficult to swallow for some people, especially if they are large in size. Another potential downside is that some capsules and softgels are made out of gelatin – an animal product – which means they are not vegetarian-friendly.
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Biotin gummy supplements
Without a doubt, the most pleasant way of taking biotin is in gummy form. Gummies taste more like candy than medication and take all the chore out of supplements. However, they are more expensive than other forms.
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Liquid biotin supplements
Similar to gummies, liquid is one of the most expensive forms of biotin. Its advantages include potential for better absorption, no need for swallowing pills, and easy dosing by using fewer or more drops.
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Biotin lozenge supplements
Lozenges are another flavourful way to get your biotin. In addition, lozenges don’t need to be swallowed as they can dissolve in the mouth. But similar to gummies, they are more expensive than standard forms like capsules and tablets.
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Biotin powder supplements
Finally, biotin supplements can also come in the form of powder. This is the cheapest form of biotin, and is advantageous for people who require very large doses (100 mg and up). In addition, powdered biotin gives you the freedom of choosing your exact dosage and allows for mixing with shakes, foods, or drinks.
But this freedom can also be a downside, because it is easier to just take a capsule with a predetermined dose than to measure your own. Another disadvantage of biotin powder is that it has no taste.
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Biotin in the diet
In addition to the above supplements, biotin is also found in a wide range of foods, including meat, fish, eggs, seeds, nuts, and some vegetables. This helps explain why biotin deficiency is a relatively rare occurrence.
Who Needs Biotin Supplements
Most people get enough biotin because it is not only present in many foods, but also produced by bacteria in the digestive tract. However, some individuals are still at risk of deficiency and may need to take biotin supplements. Groups at high risk of biotin deficiency include pregnant and breastfeeding women, smokers and alcoholics, and people with biotinidase deficiency, a rare condition that makes it difficult to process biotin.
In addition to this, some people with specific conditions described above – such as brittle nails, hair loss, and diabetic neuropathy – also take biotin supplements because human clinical research evidence supports its benefits.
What Do Biotin Supplements Do?
Biotin supplements increase the body’s levels of biotin – an essential nutrient required for healthy energy production (metabolism).
In doing so, biotin supplements can improve symptoms of biotin deficiency, which include hair loss, brittle nails, skin rashes, and cognitive symptoms such as depression, tiredness, numbness, and tinging.
In addition, research suggests that biotin supplements can also improve some conditions unrelated to biotin deficiency, such as multiple sclerosis and diabetes.
How to Choose the Best Biotin Supplement
There are several things to keep in mind when choosing the best biotin supplement for yourself. For starters, you need to figure out what you’re taking biotin for to identify the right dosage.
If you’re worried about biotin deficiency you will want to try doses between 1,000 and 10,000 mcg. On the other hand, if you’re taking biotin for a specific condition, you may need a different dosage. People who take biotin for multiple sclerosis, for example, require much larger doses.
After you’ve figured out your dosage, you need to decide whether you have any specific ingredient preferences such as vegetarian, non-GMO, or gluten-free biotin. This will greatly narrow down your options by crossing many supplements off your list.
Next, you will need to figure out which biotin supplement form you prefer. If you’re just looking for the cheapest option, go for tablets, capsules, or softgels. Powder can also work but is not that convenient to take.
On the other hand, if you prefer to take supplements in a more pleasant, tasty form and don’t mind paying more, you should go for gummies, flavored tablets, or lozenges. Finally, if you have difficulty swallowing pills, then liquid or dissolvable biotin is your best option.
Finally, you can narrow your choice down to a few products that have the right dosage, ingredient preferences, and form. At this point, you should consider factors such as the quality, value, and brand reputation of individual biotin supplements to settle on your final choice.
How to Take Biotin
Similar to most supplements, biotin products are best taken once a day with a meal. You can also take them twice a day and without meals, but most people find it more convenient to take supplements once a day, and combine them with food to reduce the chance of side effects.
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Dosage
The dosages used in biotin supplements typically range from 1,000 to 10,000 mcg. This is because 10,000 mcg (10 mg) is one of the highest dosages used to treat biotin deficiency. (10) If you’re worried about side effects such as acne, it’s best to start with a 1,000 mcg dose and slowly move up to 10,000 mcg.
A similar dosage range is used by people with hair loss & thinning, brittle nails, and skin problems, because these issues are believed to be directly related to biotin deficiency. More specifically, clinical evidence reports successful use of 2.5 mg for brittle nails, 3-10 mg for hair health, and up to 10 mg for skin issues such as rashes or dermatitis. (11)
All of these dosages are significantly higher than the recommended daily adequate intake of biotin, which is 30 mcg for adults, 35 mcg for breastfeeding women, and up to 25 mcg for children and adolescents.
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Allergies & side effects
Biotin supplements are safe to take, and it is difficult to take too much biotin. This is due to the fact that biotin is a water-soluble vitamin, which means your body removes any excess biotin it doesn’t need through urine. In fact, some people have safely taken as much as 300,000 mcg (300 mg) daily for many months. (12)
Biotin is not associated with allergic reactions, but it does have a small chance of causing side effects in some people, especially when taken at doses of 5,000 mcg and up. The most common side effect of high biotin supplement doses is acne. In addition, biotin supplements can cause false results on tests of thyroid function. (13)
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Contraindications & interactions
There are no major contraindications for biotin supplements. However, biotin can interact with some other medications. Most notably, biotin can reduce the effectiveness of some medications that interact with the liver, such as Clozaril, Luvox, and Flexeril. (14) In addition, anti-convulsant (seizure) medications are known to reduce biotin levels by promoting its breakdown. (15)
Furthermore, taking alpha-lipoic acid or panthonetic acid (vitamin B5) alongside biotin can reduce the absorption of both compounds. Finally, raw egg whites are also known to bind to biotin and prevent it from being absorbed. Because of this, people who eat two more raw eggs a day for several months can develop biotin deficiency.
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Safety warning
As with any dietary supplement, be sure to follow the recommended dosages and other instructions listed on your specific product to ensure safety.
Your Questions Answered (FAQ)
Why Do Biotin Supplements Help Some People and Not Others?
As the case with most dietary supplements, biotin doesn’t work for everyone who takes it. The most likely explanation for this is that biotin supplements will only help those people who have biotin deficiency.
Do Biotin Supplements Cause Acne?
Biotin supplements do cause acne in some people, but not everyone. The likelihood of acne increases with higher (5,000 mcg and up) doses.
Do Biotin Supplements Increase Energy?
Although unlikely, it is possible that biotin supplements can increase your energy levels because lethargy is one of the symptoms of biotin deficiency.
Can Biotin Supplements Be Used by Men with Hair or Nail Issues?
Although biotin supplements are more commonly taken by women, men can them for hair and nail health benefits as well.
Can Biotin Supplements Be Used by Men to Promote Beard Growth?
Yes.
Do Biotin Supplements Have to Be Refrigerated?
Generally speaking, biotin supplements do not need to be kept in a refrigerator. If you’re still unsure, check your supplement label.
