Guest guest Posted August 28, 2000 Report Share Posted August 28, 2000 Hello, I was interested in the thread about Biotin to help with the hair loss. Someone said something about 500mg a day....can anyone substantiate that amount? I just bought a bottle (wasn't cheap) and the capsules are only 5 mg! How much should I be taking to make a difference and how long does it take to see improvement? thanks in advance! Dana Open RNY 5-10-99 start: 295 now: 168 5'3 Dr. Shikora NEMC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 28, 2000 Report Share Posted August 28, 2000 >>>I was interested in the thread about Biotin to help with the hair loss. Someone said something about 500mg a day....can anyone substantiate that amount? I just bought a bottle (wasn't cheap) and the capsules are only 5mg! How much should I be taking to make a difference and how long does it take to see improvement? >>>>>>> Biotin is usually sold in micrograms or mcg. I do not know how to convert your 5mg. to mcg. there is no RDA for biotin but the estimated safe and adequate dietary intake for adults is 100micrograms. It is used to promote stronger nails and healthy hair and as much as 1000mcg. can be taken daily. Biotin works synergistically with other B vitamins. Alcohol inhibits the absorption and utilization of Biotin. Antibiotics may decrease biotin levels because of destruction of biotin producing gut bacteria. I was having extreme nail breakage, splitting, chipping, cracking - it was like my fingernails were made of onion skin. it took about 5 weeks of 500mcg. of biotin daily to see improvement. this happened after my emergency surgery. during the time I took the increased amount of biotin I was needing my hair cut and thinned every 2-3 weeks - it was growing like a weed! Biotin is very cheap - you can get several hundred pills for $3 at Rite Aid - but these are the mcg not an mg. [thats probably why yours were not cheap] maybe someone can do the conversion from mcg to mg. for Dana.......... Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 28, 2000 Report Share Posted August 28, 2000 1000mcg = 1mg Carolyn Re: Biotin > > >>>>I was interested in the thread about Biotin to help with >the hair loss. Someone said something about 500mg a >day....can anyone substantiate that >amount? I just bought a bottle (wasn't cheap) and the >capsules are only 5mg! How much should I be taking to make >a difference and how long does it >take to see improvement? >>>>>>>> > > >Biotin is usually sold in micrograms or mcg. I do not know >how to convert your 5mg. to mcg. >there is no RDA for biotin but the estimated safe and >adequate dietary intake for adults is 100micrograms. >It is used to promote stronger nails and healthy hair and as >much as 1000mcg. can be taken daily. >Biotin works synergistically with other B vitamins. Alcohol >inhibits the absorption and utilization of Biotin. >Antibiotics may decrease biotin levels because of >destruction of biotin producing gut bacteria. > >I was having extreme nail breakage, splitting, chipping, >cracking - it was like my fingernails were made of onion >skin. it took about 5 weeks of 500mcg. of biotin daily to >see improvement. this happened after my emergency surgery. >during the time I took the increased amount of biotin I was >needing my hair cut and thinned every 2-3 weeks - it was >growing like a weed! >Biotin is very cheap - you can get several hundred pills for >$3 at Rite Aid - but these are the mcg not an mg. [thats >probably why yours were not cheap] >maybe someone can do the conversion from mcg to mg. for >Dana.......... > >Sue > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 29, 2000 Report Share Posted August 29, 2000 >Thanks for the input.... but now I'm even more confused! If I'm only supposed to be taking 100-500 mcg a day, and the pills are 5 mg, and 1mg=1000mcg, then these pills are way too high a dosage!?! Is that right? What am I missing here? Will it do me any harm to take the 5mg a day? > >>>>>>> Dana, since there is no RDA for biotin and since we malabsorb some of what we ingest, the outer limit suggested by my encyclopedia of nutritional supplements is [1000-3000mcg.] 3000mcg. or 3mg. - since you have 5mg. pills I would probably just take one every other day or if you can cut them in half.... there have been no known side effects reported, biotin is considered safe. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2000 Report Share Posted August 31, 2000 I've been in the hair business for 22 years and I have to put my two cents in here. Biotin has never made a difference in anyone I have ever seen take. Save your money and put it into a good wig until the hair grows back... thanks.. Jan 3-11-98 RNY Biotin >Thanks for the input.... but now I'm even more confused! If I'm only >supposed to be taking 100-500 mcg a day, and the pills are 5 mg, and >1mg=1000mcg, then these pills are way too high a dosage!?! Is that right? >What am I missing here? Will it do me any harm to take the 5mg a day? > >Dana >Open RNY 5-10-99 >start: 295 >now: 168 >5'3 >Dr. Shikora >NEMC > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2000 Report Share Posted August 31, 2000 >>>>> I am confused about Biotin. I am losing my pretty long hair big time. I saw 2 dif. sizes at the drug store: 300mcg and 800mcg. How much total should I take daily for maximum effectiveness. I was thinking of taking 300mcg 3 times a day with meals.. >>>>>> biotin has no RDA and is recommended that the average person needs 300mcg. although they go on to say that 1000mcg. is necessary to promote nail and hair growth. there is no info about absorption, malabsorption, with or without food. just that it works synergistically with other B's. I would make it easy and take the 800mcg. once a day with my B complex. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2000 Report Share Posted August 31, 2000 >I've been in the hair business for 22 years and I have to put my two cents in here. Biotin has never made a difference in anyone I have ever seen take. Save your money and put it into a good wig until the hair grows back... thanks.. Jan 3-11-98 RNY >>>>>>>> either Time or Biotin has made a huge difference in my nails and I'm betting it's the biotin because during the same time I was taking high quantities of the stuff I was having to get my hair cut about every 3 weeks. the hairdresser noticed a huge difference in thickness as well. I don't know that the average person would take 1000mcg. or more of biotin. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2000 Report Share Posted August 31, 2000 In a message dated 8/31/00 4:57:04 PM Pacific Daylight Time, laemax@... writes: > I've been in the hair business for 22 years and I have to put my two cents > in here. Biotin has never made a difference in anyone I have ever seen take. > Save your money and put it into a good wig until the hair grows back... > thanks.. Jan 3-11-98 RNY I have to disagree with you. Biotin was added to my compounded vitamins and I took it separately before that. It stopped my hair loss very quickly. It has helped many other WLS in our support group. BobA Biliopancreatic Diversion (A Very Distal RNY) on 10/8/98 220 Pounds Gone Forever, But Not Forgotten! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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