Does biotin actually help hair?

Biotin (vitamin B7) is a coenzyme the body uses to make keratin, the main protein in hair and nails. That is why it is the first name people think of when they think about hair vitamins.

What the evidence says

A 2017 review by Patel and colleagues found that nearly every documented case where biotin clearly improved hair involved someone who was already deficient — through genetics, pregnancy, certain medications or a poor diet. In people who are not deficient, the evidence that high-dose biotin adds anything is limited.

The honest summary: biotin matters for hair, but "matters" and "more is better" are different claims.

Before you take it

High-dose biotin can interfere with some lab tests, including thyroid hormones and troponin (a heart-attack marker). The US FDA warned about this in 2017 and again in 2019. If you take biotin, tell your doctor before any blood test.

So what should you do?

Treat biotin as one of several nutrients hair needs, not the only one. Zinc, iron, vitamin D and enough protein are at least as well supported (Almohanna 2019). And if shedding is heavy or unusual, finding the cause with a specialist matters more than adding any single vitamin.

U-TURN contains 900 mcg of biotin per capsule alongside zinc, selenium, iron and fourteen other nutrients. Biotin, zinc and selenium contribute to the maintenance of normal hair. Dietary supplement; not intended to prevent or treat any disease.