We assure you that you won’t be alone on your journey towards becoming your healthier self.
Women Wellness
All About Taking Biotin During Pregnancy And Biotinidase Deficiency
A woman's nutritional needs change a lot during pregnancy to support her health and the growing baby. One important nutrient is biotin, a B vitamin that helps with energy and cell function. Not getting enough biotin during pregnancy can harm the baby's development, so it's vital to include it in your diet. Eating a balanced diet provides the necessary nutrients, but some nutrients, like biotin, are needed in larger amounts during pregnancy. You should also add biotin-rich foods or take supplements recommended by your doctor.
Biotin during pregnancy is essential for healthy skin, hair, and nails, as well as for the baby's growth and development. However, biotin deficiency can happen often during pregnancy, leading to symptoms like rashes, hair loss, and even nerve issues. Pregnant women should ensure they get enough biotin from their diet or supplements to avoid these problems and have a healthy pregnancy.
Read on to learn more about biotin and pregnancy, especially why biotin is important for pregnant women, its safety during pregnancy, its effects on pregnancy tests, and the significance of biotinidase deficiency during this time.
Table Of Contents
1. The Importance Of Biotin For Pregnant Woman
2. Is Biotin Safe To Take While Pregnancy?
3. What Does Biotin Do To Pregnancy Tests?
4. What Is Biotinidase Deficiency In Pregnancy?
5. Dietitian’s Recommendation
6. The Final Say
7. FAQs
8. References
The Importance Of Biotin For Pregnant Woman
Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a vital role in many bodily processes, including metabolism, cell growth, and amino acid breakdown; it acts as a prosthetic molecule for enzymes involved in energy metabolism and the production of fatty acids and glucose. It is important for pregnant women because:
1. Essential For Maternal Health
Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy skin, hair, and nails. It supports liver function, promotes skin health, and is vital for the proper functioning of the nervous system. Biotin helps regulate blood sugar levels, contributing to overall metabolic health. This vitamin is present in various foods, including liver, egg yolks, nuts, and whole grains, making it important for the well-being of expectant mothers.
During pregnancy, the demand for biotin increases significantly, as it is essential for fetal growth and development. Biotin supports the formation of fatty acids and amino acids, which are critical for the baby's cellular development. It also aids in maintaining healthy hair, skin, nails, eyes, liver, and nervous system. Once considered rare, biotin deficiency is now recognised as more common among pregnant women, highlighting the need for adequate intake during this critical period.
Also Read: Know All About The Best Biotin Tablets For Hair Growth
2. Important For Fetal Growth
Biotin is vital during pregnancy as it is essential to fetal growth. If there are insufficient biotin levels during pregnancy, the baby may be born prematurely and have limited development.
Biotin is needed for the function of many carboxylase enzymes, which are crucial in different metabolic pathways like gluconeogenesis, making fatty acids and metabolising amino acids. These processes provide energy and building materials for cells that quickly multiply during pregnancy.
Biotin is part of the process that controls gene expression and DNA creation, both very important in a baby's growth from its earliest stages. The vitamin helps make nucleotides, which are needed to build DNA. As cells divide quickly during early pregnancy, this supports creating more building units for new genetic material. This becomes crucial for forming the baby's organs and systems.
3. Supports The Function Of The Immune System
Biotin plays a crucial role in supporting the immune system, helping to protect pregnant women against infections and diseases. This vitamin is essential for the proper functioning of immune cells, which are vital for maintaining maternal health during pregnancy.
As a cofactor for various enzymes, biotin is essential for the synthesis of fatty acids and amino acids, which are vital for immune cell function. Biotin deficiency has been linked to impaired immune responses, including reduced antibody production and lower levels of B lymphocytes, which are critical for fighting infections.
Biotin is also important for your baby's embryonic growth, promoting rapid cell division and DNA replication, making it a critical nutrient for fetal development.
Adequate biotin levels help maintain a robust immune system, ensuring that the mother can effectively combat pathogens and reduce the risk of infections. This is particularly important during pregnancy, as the immune system undergoes changes to protect both the mother and the developing fetus.
Also Read: Daily Vitamins For A Woman: 7 Best Vitamins For Women's Health
Is Biotin Safe To Take While Pregnancy?
Yes, biotin is safe and should be taken during pregnancy. The body uses up all of its regular supply of biotin for the baby's growth, so a deficiency occurs during pregnancy. Therefore, additional biotin supplementation is needed to maintain the body and baby supply.
The National Institute of Nutrition and the Indian Council of Medical Research recommend that pregnant women consume at least 30 mcg of biotin or vitamin B7 daily.
Biotin supplementation can help treat biotin deficiency but should be taken in directed amounts and not too much. As in animal studies, a higher dosage of biotin has been linked to an increased risk of miscarriage and congenital disabilities.
What Does Biotin Do To Pregnancy Tests?
Yes, excessive biotin can interfere with some necessary blood tests. Do not take more biotin than you need or your doctor recommends. Increased biotin in your blood sample can bind to specific proteins during the test process, causing inaccurately high or low test results.
Biotin can interfere with the results of some blood tests, including HCG (a hormone measured in pregnancy tests), TSH, and other reproductive hormones. Depending on the test, high levels of biotin in your blood can cause test results to be higher or lower than the actual result.
Here are some examples:
1. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG)
That’s right, it’s the pregnancy hormone. High HCG levels can be an early sign of pregnancy. HCG levels are also checked to identify an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage. Excess biotin can cause false low levels in blood tests. This means you may be pregnant, experiencing an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage and not know it. High biotin levels in urine tests can cause home pregnancy tests not to show a test line, which can give false results.
2. Troponin Level Test
Troponin assays, which are frequently used to diagnose heart attacks, gauge the amount of troponin proteins in the blood to assess heart muscle injury. Biotin's impact on the assay procedures can lead to erroneous results or compromise the test's accuracy. This interference may result in inaccurate troponin level readings, which could affect the identification and treatment of any heart problems.
3. Thyroid Hormone Tests
Taking biotin can affect blood tests that check the thyroid gland. People who take biotin supplements may have falsely low thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and falsely high triiodothyronine (T3) or thyroxine (T4) levels. This can result in a misdiagnosis of hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland) and make it difficult for people with hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) to choose the correct dose of thyroid medication.
4. Vitamin D Level Testing
There is some evidence that biotin can interfere with blood test results for vitamin D levels. People who take biotin supplements may have incorrect vitamin D levels on some tests. Getting an inaccurate blood test result can be life-threatening in extreme cases. Even in less extreme cases, it can lead to not getting the treatment you need or treatment you do not need. Your doctor should ask you if you take a biotin supplement. Even if you don't, talk about it. Some doctors may recommend temporarily stopping biotin supplements a few days before the test.
Also Read: 4 Surprising Benefits Of Fish Oil During Pregnancy Every Mom Should Know!
What Is Biotinidase Deficiency In Pregnancy?
Biotinidase deficiency (BTD) is a treatable, inherited condition that affects how the body processes a vitamin called biotin (sometimes called vitamin H). Biotin is an essential vitamin that aids in the body's breakdown of proteins, lipids, and carbs. An enzyme called biotinidase aids in recycling biotin so the body can use it again. Biotinidase deficiency occurs when this enzyme does not work properly. Genetic alterations, or mutations, in the gene cause BTD.
There are two types: partial BTD and deep BTD. Compared to those with mild BTD, those with profound BTD typically have more severe symptoms sooner in life. Supplemental biotin can be used to treat both types of BTD. Early detection and treatment of BTD might stop symptoms before they start. Newborn screening can detect almost all babies with deep or partial BTD.
Here are some features of biotinidase deficiency:
1. A Hereditary Condition
It can be brought on by modifications (mutations) in the BTD gene. The BTD gene instructs the body to make the enzyme biotinidase, which helps the body recycle a vital vitamin called biotin (vitamin H). Health problems like the above symptoms can occur when the body cannot recycle biotin. Babies with BTD may not exhibit any symptoms at birth. Typically, BTD symptoms start to show up a few weeks or months after birth.
2. May Cause Seizures
Taking biotin supplements prior to the onset of BTD can avoid symptoms. However, not every person with BTD will show all of these symptoms. Many symptoms of BTD are neurological, meaning they affect the brain and nervous system.
About 70% of infants with BTD will have seizures if left untreated. This is often the first symptom of the disease. Infant seizures can appear differently than adult seizures. Infants with BTD may also have vision or hearing problems. Early initiation of biotin treatment can prevent these problems.
3. Standard Features
Some other standard features of BTD include eye infections such as pink eye (conjunctivitis) and a type of skin rash called eczema. Certain compounds, such as lactic acid (lactic acidemia) or small but detectable ammonia levels, may be present in the urine of infants with BTD.
4. Other Symptoms
Some children may have other symptoms, such as:
- Difficulty controlling their body movements (ataxia)
- Breathing problems
- Drowsiness (lethargy)
- Enlarged liver (hepatomegaly)
- Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly)
- Problems with speech.
Without biotin treatment, infants with BTD may develop coma and may even die.
Dietitian’s Recommendation
Biotin is a key nutrient essential for both mother and baby during pregnancy. It helps and promotes healthy growth, prevents birth defects and improves glucose metabolism. It is best to get biotin through the diet as with other nutrients. By including biotin-rich foods in your pregnancy diet, you will ensure that you are not deficient. Be sure to include biotin-rich foods in your diet and consult a health care professional before taking any biotin supplements. PCOS and PCOD can significantly affect conception and reproductive health. If you are someone with this issue, you can opt for Ova 360 from ToneOp Care to reverse PCOD and PCOS symptoms and enhance your fertility.
Dt. Lavina Chauhan
The Final Say
In conclusion, biotin is a vital nutrient for pregnant women, significantly contributing to both maternal health and fetal development. The functions of biotin related to energy processing, cell expansion, and immune system strength are crucial during pregnancy because their requirements rise with the growth of the fetus.
Biotin deficiency can lead to adverse outcomes, including impaired fetal growth and increased risk of complications. Therefore, ensuring adequate biotin intake through diet or supplements is crucial for expectant mothers. Understanding biotinidase deficiency is important, as it can further complicate biotin metabolism during pregnancy. In general, it is very important to have good levels of biotin during pregnancy for the health of both the mother and her baby.
FAQs
1. Is too much biotin bad for the baby?
Yes, anything taken over the prescribed amount is bad for the expecting mother and the baby, and that includes excess biotin. When taken in the prescribed dosages during pregnancy and lactation, biotin is probably safe.
2. Can biotin cause birth defects?
Yes, biotin deficiency during pregnancy can potentially lead to birth defects, particularly in the neural tube. Studies suggest that marginal biotin deficiency is common in normal human pregnancy and may contribute to the incidence of birth defects like cleft palate and limb shortening.
3. Can biotin give you a false negative pregnancy test?
Yes, high levels of biotin supplements can interfere with certain blood and urine pregnancy tests, leading to false results. Biotin can cause falsely low levels of the pregnancy hormone hCG in blood tests, making it appear like you are not pregnant.
In urine tests, excess biotin may prevent the control line on home pregnancy tests from appearing, yielding invalid results.
4. How much biotin is safe during pregnancy?
According to the Institute of Medicine, 30 mcg of biotin per day is required for adults, including pregnant women. However, most biotin supplement labels are not strictly regulated and may contain vast amounts of biotin than you need.
References
- https://www.goodrx.com/well-being/supplements-herbs/can-you-take-too-much-biotin
- https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/biotinidase-deficiency/
- https://ritual.com/articles/what-is-biotin
- https://myovaterra.com/blogs/resource-library/biotin-take-it-for-embryonic-development-if-not-for-your-hair-and-skin
About ToneOp Care
ToneOp Care is the ultimate destination for high-quality nutraceutical supplements and ayurvedic products in India! We are proud to offer a significant range of products designed to support your overall health and well-being, including weight loss, muscle gain, immunity, skin and hair care, and women's health. All our products are manufactured in India using the latest technology and facilities, ensuring the highest quality standards.