1. What is Vitamin B7?

Vitamin B7, also known as biotin or vitamin H, is a type of B vitamin that dissolves in water. The “H” in its name comes from the German words “Haar und Haut,” which mean “hair and skin.” It helps with many processes in your body and is very important for staying healthy. While the tiny bacteria in your gut can make a little bit of biotin, you mainly need to get it from the food you eat.

2. How Vitamin B7 Helps Your Body and Health

1. A Key Player in How Your Body Uses Food

Fat Processing: Biotin helps your body make and break down fats, keeping your blood fat levels balanced.

Carbohydrate Processing: It helps your body make energy from sugar and keeps your blood sugar steady.

Protein Processing: It supports your body in using proteins, which helps repair and grow your muscles.

2. Healthy Skin, Hair, and Nails

Better Skin Protection: Biotin helps your body manage fats, which keeps your skin hydrated. This can ease problems like eczema or skin irritation. It also helps your skin cells renew, making your skin smoother and more elastic.

Stronger Hair and Nails: If you don’t have enough biotin, you might lose hair, have thinning hair, or weak nails that break easily. Adding more biotin can make the protein in your hair and nails stronger, helping treat hair loss, making your hair grow faster and thicker, and improving your nails by making them harder and less likely to break or split.

3. Supporting Your Brain and Nerves

Biotin helps make chemicals in your brain (like acetylcholine) that improve your thinking skills. It might also help with feelings of sadness or brain-related conditions as you age.

4. Pregnancy and Baby Growth

When you’re pregnant, your body needs more biotin. Not having enough might cause problems with your baby’s growth, like a cleft palate. Getting the right amount can lower this risk.

5. Boosting Your Immune System and Reducing Swelling

Biotin helps calm down swelling in your body by controlling a pathway called NF-κB, which makes your immune system stronger.

6. Protecting Your Heart and Blood Vessels

Biotin helps manage your cholesterol levels by lowering the “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and raising the “good” cholesterol (HDL).