Biotin is part of the B group of vitamins and is important in the energy producing reactions because it is a co-factor for a number of carboxylase enzymes in fatty acid and amino acid metabolism, as well as gluconeogenesis. Vitamins can often have pharmacological actions in addition to their vitamin effects if taken in high concentrations. Recently, a group of researchers1 reported the use of very high concentrations of biotin in patients who had lost the sensation of taste. One patient had taste restored with 10 mg per day biotin and the other patient responded with restored taste function after taking 20 mg per day biotin. Biotin therapy was originally used because one subject had been taking supplements of lipoic acid, which may bind to the biotin transporter and prevent absorption. However, the authors could offer no explanation as to why the subject responded to biotin, because they demonstrated none of the classic biotin deficiency symptoms and had normal urinary excretion of the vitamin.
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