Biotin has many benefits for your body. Its primary role is to help turn the food you eat into energy. Your body also needs it to produce keratin — the protein that makes up hair, skin, and nails.
Biotin deficiency can cause skin rashes, brittle nails, as well as hair thinning and loss. This is due to the vitamin’s essential role in keratin production.
In a 2012 study, women with self-perceived thinning hair were given either a hair growth supplement containing biotin or a placebo for 6 months. Those who received the biotin-containing supplement reported a visible increase in hair volume, scalp coverage, and thickness. The placebo group showed no significant change.
However, the supplement also contained other nutrients like zinc and iron — both of which are also known to support hair health — so it’s unclear how much of the effect was from biotin alone.
Another study found that children who saw improved hair growth after taking biotin supplements all had underlying conditions that caused biotin deficiencies. This suggests that biotin is most effective in people who are deficient in it, rather than being a universal solution for hair growth.
While biotin plays a key role in hair health, it may only promote noticeable hair growth in those who have a deficiency. For others, a balanced diet with sufficient vitamins and minerals may be all that’s needed for healthy hair.
