Biotin, also known as Vitamin B7, is a vitamin that’s essential to many critical bodily functions including protein synthesis and gene expression*. It can be found in a range of foods including beef, eggs, avocado, and yeast. It is also naturally created inside the gut by good bacteria, but scientists still aren’t sure how much Biotin these bacteria really create.
Biotin is essential to regulating gene expression, which your body does a lot of during pregnancy because it’s rapidly creating a lot of new cells for both your body and baby’s development. In your body, Biotin works to support epigenetic gene expression. In baby’s development, Biotin promotes gene expression; essentially, it helps to make sure that baby’s development is following the development instructions coded by their DNA.*
Most non-pregnant women get plenty of Biotin from food, and Biotin shortfalls among non-pregnant women are very rare. But Biotin shortfalls during pregnancy are somewhat more common; some estimates show that up to 10% of women experience undiagnosed low Biotin levels while pregnant. Because women use more Biotin while pregnant to support all that gene expression happening inside their bodies, they are more prone to low levels, and should supplement with a prenatal vitamin with Biotin.*
Promotes the health of existing hair. Biotin also helps produce keratin and works to increase the elasticity of the hair’s cortex, thus preventing breakage and hair loss
