COMPENDIUM ON FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE - Flipbook - Page 187
● Chronic illnesses are present4especially kidney disease,
cancer, or conditions that affect nutrient absorption (like
Crohn’s or celiac disease).
● The person smokes or is exposed to secondhand smoke
regularly.
Range
Units
Conventional
0.4-2.2 mg/dL
Optimal / Functional
0.4-2.2 mg/dL
Biotin (B7)
Biotin, also called vitamin B7, is a vitamin that helps your body turn
food into energy. It supports healthy skin, hair, and nails, and helps
keep your cells working properly. While most people get enough
from their diet, it’s especially important during times like
pregnancy or recovery.
Understanding Biotin Interference in Lab Testing
High doses of biotin (vitamin B7) can interfere with a number of
important lab tests4especially those used to diagnose conditions
like anemia, cancer, autoimmune diseases, infections, and heart
disease.
One of the more serious concerns is that biotin can mask a true
diagnosis. For example, it may cause falsely low troponin levels4a
key marker for heart muscle injury4which could lead to a missed
diagnosis of a cardiac event.
Biotin from food and standard multivitamins (typically around 30
micrograms per day) doesn’t cause issues. The interference usually
happens with high-dose supplements, often taken for hair, skin, or
nail health.
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