Biotina y labs

Biotin beware: Physician, patient knowledge about lab interference

Authors of a recent JAAD letter highlight how biotin supplementation can interfere with laboratory testing. While some patients have clinically diagnosed biotin deficiency, the authors note that far more patients are taking biotin without documented deficiency despite a lack of evidence supporting the efficacy of biotin for treatment of hair, skin, or nail conditions.

[FDA's biotin warning: Was it enough to educate physicians, patients about the risk? Read more in DermWorld Weekly.]

In a survey of nearly 150 physicians (predominantly dermatologists), 44% recommended biotin supplementation, mostly for nail (87%) and hair (59%) disorders, despite the majority acknowledging the lack of randomized trials demonstrating improvement in hair, nail, or skin growth. While many physicians were aware of laboratory interaction with thyroid (62.5%) and troponin (58.6%), few knew of interactions with 25-OH vitamin D, beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (both 7%), hepatitis (2.3%), or HIV serology (1.6%). Nearly a quarter were fully unaware of interference and almost half reported that they do not routinely recommend discontinuation of biotin prior to lab testing.

In a survey of 447 patients in an outpatient dermatology clinic, 34% reported past or current use of biotin. More than half had self-prescribed biotin. The majority of these patients had blood testing during supplementation (56%), although 93% were unaware of the FDA warning, and just over 1% received physician counseling about biotin interference.

Biotin supplementation for nail, hair health? Does it pass the test? Find out in DermWorld Insights and Inquiries.