Biotin: its role in diet, genetics and health
What it found
Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin that human cells cannot make and must take up from gut bacteria or food.
People of different ages need between 5 and 35 mcg a day, though the exact average requirement is uncertain.
What they found
What biotin does
Biotin acts as an essential cofactor in many cellular metabolic processes, including fatty acid biosynthesis, fatty acid oxidation, amino acid metabolism, and gluconeogenesis.
Where biotin comes from
Human cells do not make biotin. They take it up from intestinal gut bacteria or dietary sources.
How much is needed
The estimated average requirement for biotin is uncertain, but people of different ages require between 5 and 35 mcg a day.
Drug development potential
Biotin's chemical structure and its involvement in metabolic pathways in all three domains of life have opened possibilities for drug development against pathogenic bacteria.
Use in diagnosis
Biotin is a small molecule with high and robust affinity towards avidin, which makes it suitable for use as a biochemical sensor for the diagnosis of diseases.
Biofilm interaction
A substantial adsorption and affinity of biotin towards proteins implicated in lipid or fatty-acid synthesis directs its potential to interact with and dismantle the extracellular matrix of bacterial biofilm.
What the authors conclude
- They explore the genesis, structural outlook, and multifaceted role of biotin in genetics, healthcare, diet, and future research.
- They aim to provide a holistic view of biotin research, ranging from cellular and molecular levels to the dosage and food supplements.
How it was done
Biotin's chemical structure and its role in metabolic pathways across all three domains of life have opened up possibilities for drug development against pathogenic bacteria. Its strong affinity for avidin also makes it suitable for use as a biochemical sensor for diagnosing diseases.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This is a review, not a new study, so it does not report original measurements or outcomes.
- It cannot show what amount of biotin is needed for any particular person or health effect.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- University of Copenhagen, Denmark; University of Liverpool, UK
The paper
- Title
- Biotin: DNA to diet
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Karalia S, Meena VK (2025). Biotin: DNA to diet. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry. doi:10.1016/j.jnutbio.2025.110081PubMed 40854404DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error