COLUMBUS — For many cancer patients, hair loss is one of the most distressing side effects of their therapy. Increasingly, they have been taking oral supplements of biotin, which are marketed to consumers for their potential to improve hair regrowth and brittle nails.
However, there is little scientific evidence that oral biotin supplements promote hair and nail growth for those living with or recovering from cancer, and they may actually interfere with lab results, said Brittany Dulmage, MD, an oncodermatologist at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center — Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.
Biotin, or vitamin B7, is used by the body to build protein, including keratin, which is a key component of hair, skin and nails. Biotin deficiency is rare because it is readily available in everyday foods like fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs and dairy products…