There tends to be some confusion regarding milligrams and micrograms, especially where biotin is concerned.
It’s easy to understand why.
Labels are confusing.
Everyone is super busy.
So when you see 2 products and one says 10,000 on the label and 1 says 150, it’s easy to assume that 10,000 is more than 150, right?
Not so fast!
How to Read Biotin Labels
We recently had a comment from a Facebook user who thought he was taking 10,000 mg. of biotin—until he found out he was taking only a fraction of that. He was reading the labels wrong!
That’s where a little 5th grade science meets 5th grade math!
Many biotin supplements for hair & nails are sold based on MICROGRAMS (mcg).
Products like Myetin® contain milligrams (mg).
1 milligram (mg) is equal to 1,000 micrograms (mcg).
In layman’s terms, a milligram is 1,000 times more powerful.
Or, you’d have to take 1,000 micrograms to equal 1 milligram.
Back to our customer’s example. He was taking 10,000 micrograms (mcg) of biotin – the equivalent of 10 mg.
Just for reference, each dose of Myetin® contains 25 mg of biotin, nearly three times as much!
Don’t be fooled by big numbers on the back of labels. The big thing to look at is whether or not the dosage is listed as mcg or mg!
What’s the FDA Say About How Much Biotin to Take?
The FDA has not established a recommended daily allowance for biotin, although the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine states that 30 mcg is “adequate” for adults over the age of 19.
Proponents of biotin often recommend 2-5 mg. (2,000 to 5,000 mcg.) to achieve desired results.
It is important that consumers know exactly how much biotin they are taking and whether the supplement is a high-quality product. In reality, the person mentioned above was taking 10,000 micrograms of biotin, which is only about 10 mg.
How Biotin Affects the Body
Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin, which means the body can easily get rid of any excess.
This makes high-dose biotin a safe supplement, which, when taken regularly throughout the day, can really make a difference in your energy levels and plays the following roles in the body:
- Several enzymes in the body require biotin to function properly. These enzymes are involved in carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism.
- Biotin helps break down amino acids in the body, such as leucine.
- Biotin enables glucose production from amino acids.
- High-dose biotin can help fragile, brittle nails and help hair grow healthier and stronger.
- Biotin supplementation may positively affect blood sugar levels in those with type 2 diabetes.
- Biotin supplementation can help those with skin issues (red, scaly skin rashes).
- High-dose biotin may support better nerve health. Recent pilot studies have shown synergy by combining high-dose biotin and NAD+ for neurological health.
Know Your Biotin Supplement
Unfortunately, many of the supposedly high-strength or high-dose biotin supplements are only 10,000 mcg, meaning you would need to take 30 tablets a day to reach the same dose found in products like Myetin®.
Further, many high-dose biotin supplements on the market may contain many fillers. Because of this, it is imperative that you purchase your biotin from reputable sellers who do not “pad” their biotin with fillers.
Getting High-Dose Biotin from Myetin
Myetin® is a nutritional supplement which combines the cellular benefits of biotin with the regenerative energy of NAD+.
The D-Biotin found in Myetin supports the production of the myelin sheath when taken in high doses. This sheath is the layer found around the nerves, allowing transmission of electrical impulses. Click here to read more about Myetin.
