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Biotin Suppliments: Can too much cause hair loss?

iwillsellthistoyou
Enthusiast
I started talking 3mg of biotin along with a muli-vitamin about a month ago. My hair is so fine which is one reason why I started taking the vitamin. I noticed that I have more hair fall out than usual. Am I taking too much biotin or is this common when you first take it?
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Re: Biotin Suppliments: Can too much cause hair loss?

iwillsellthistoyou
Enthusiast
I'm also taking flaxseed oil, I guess that's what is causing the hair loss.
Message 2 of 35
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Re: Biotin Suppliments: Can too much cause hair loss?

laerley
Thrill-Seeker
Biotin is part of the b-complex: and therefore water soluble (which is easily be eliminated in urine). I don’t believe there have been any reported cases of Biotin overdose or excess. And, it there were any, it would almost certainly NOT be at the levels you are discussing.

However, it may be possible that the flax seed is contributing to hair loss? I don’t know how credible the research is, but I have read that flaxseeds (which, like soy, are loaded with phytoestrogens), which can result in excess estrogen (which can result in increased DHT production and hair loss).

Years ago, there were several studies which suggested flax seed oil actually increased the risk of certain cancers (such a prostate cancer in men). What was interesting was that flax seeds themselves had NO such associated risk (in fact, they seemed to reduce the risk). As far as I know, no one ever figured out exactly why the freshly grounds seeds were beneficial/healthy, but the oil was NOT. There was a theory floating around that it might be due to the lignan constituents found in flax seeds, but missing from most of the highly perishable, flaxseed oil products. But, we may never know the answer, because the industries/manufacturers (any/all) don’t fund research to report the negative side of their products.

I’m a big believer in omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. But, I’d recommend fish or krill oil over flax seed oil, seven days a week.
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Re: Biotin Suppliments: Can too much cause hair loss?

iwillsellthistoyou
Enthusiast
I stopped talking the multi vitamin and flax oil a few days ago because I noticed my hair just got thinner and thinner. I had fine hair but it was thick, I had a ton of it. My hair is now half of what it was. I don't know how that could happen in just a month of taking the flax seed but I see a lot of other people are having the same problem. Hair loss is not in my family so I know it is not that.

I will never take those again. Any idea if the hair will ever come back to what it was? This is just so depressing!
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Re: Biotin Suppliments: Can too much cause hair loss?

laerley
Thrill-Seeker
I will never take those again. Any idea if the hair will ever come back to what it was? This is just so depressing!

I don’t think anyone on this board (or any other board) can tell you whether your hair will grow back (certainly, I can't)! NO one (including yourself), knows what caused the sudden hair loss. I mentioned that I had read reports that flax seed oil “COULD” cause hair loss, in some individuals (primarily those who suffer from estrogen dominance). Does that apply to you, who knows?

The only way to know (for sure) is to have your hormone levels tested. As I mentioned in my earlier post, flax oil can cause an increase in estrogen levels, which can cause hair loss. But, flax seed oil is certainly NOT the only thing that can cause estrogen levels to increase. In today’s society, we are bombarded with estrogen mimicking compound (pesticides, soaps, plastics, cosmetics, perfumes, paints, canned foods, birth control pills, processed meats, fabric softeners, air fresheners, SOY products, etc.). The list is nearly inexhaustible!

Determining whether your hormone levels are out of whack (and, I think most peoples are) is the easy part. Doing something about it (correcting the problem) is the difficult part. I found out a year (or two ago) that mine are out of whack. But, I haven’t been very successful at correcting the problem (seems I'm addicted to the easy life ;-).
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Re: Biotin Suppliments: Can too much cause hair loss?

peepla
Enthusiast
You aren't taking enough. The symptoms you discribed are a biotin deficiency. I take 3000 - 5000 mcg per day....the result...more hair. Biotin is water soluble. If by some unforseen reason you actually manage to overdose on biotin....just drink a lot of water.
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Re: Biotin Suppliments: Can too much cause hair loss?

qcornerstone
Enthusiast
She is taking enough. She said 3 mg. That's 3000 mcg. That's the amount you take. I just read on another forum that a very popular hair skin and nails formula is making everyone's hair fall out. The msm in the formula, 800 mg., is apparently the culprit. Just my take on that. I have begun taking a B-complex because I don't get much protein. It has biotin in it. Maybe you need that instead of isolating the biotin and taking alone without the support of the other b's.
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Re: Biotin Suppliments: Can too much cause hair loss?

Sorry to say... he is taking 3MG.. not 3 MCG.. he is taking way more than you are.  I was taking 5,000 MCG.. and moved up to 5 MG.. way way more... you are in fact not taking enough to make any kind of noticable difference.  Also, to advise someone to only drink extra water if taking too much of a supplement is truly not good advise.  However, you can not have too much Biotin.. you body extretes the extra.  My Biochemist, Hormone Specialist Endocronologistt and MD have all told me this fact.  However, he or she should definately have their thyroid checked out... it usually is thyroid... and could also be hormones (saliva test is best for that)

Message 8 of 35
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Re: Biotin Suppliments: Can too much cause hair loss?

Sorry to say... he is taking 3MG.. not 3 MCG.. he is taking way more than you are.  I was taking 5,000 MCG.. and moved up to 5 MG.. way way more... you are in fact not taking enough to make any kind of noticable difference.  Also, to advise someone to only drink extra water if taking too much of a supplement is truly not good advise.  However, you can not have too much Biotin.. you body extretes the extra.  My Biochemist, Hormone Specialist Endocronologistt and MD have all told me this fact.  However, he or she should definately have their thyroid checked out... it usually is thyroid... and could also be hormones (saliva test is best for that)

Message 9 of 35
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Re: Biotin Suppliments: Can too much cause hair loss?

crabapple_river
Enthusiast

You didn't move very far.. 5000 mcg is 5 mg.   Please do your math..

Biotin will not cause hair loss.   Dematologist advise taking Biotin supplements to help promote the growth of hair and nails, especially for someone with nail fungus.  

Extra hair loss can be noted when you start taking it, due to the fact that your hair is growing at a faster rate.

You are incorrect, you can have too much of any supplement.  Your body doesn't simply excrete it.
Yet.. since you don't seem to think that someone can take too much, there certainly wouldn't be a problem with drinking extra water would there!


Sincerely.. an M.D.   (not all are created equal.. yet Johns Hopkins..we do our best!)

Message 10 of 35
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Re: Biotin Suppliments: Can too much cause hair loss?

crabapple_river
Enthusiast

More hair loss can be noted when you first start taking it, because of the increase in the hair growth.

However, with that noted..

There are other things you need to have checked.

One.. your medications.  All, including OTC's need to be cross referenced for alopecia (hair loss)  nexium can cause it.. just an example.

Second.. hormone levels, which includes thyroid tests.. and other tests that I am not going to get into.. All should start with your primary.. then to a RA specialist.  They are not just arthritis docs.

Good luck!

Sincerely,



Johns Hopkins  M.D.

Message 11 of 35
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Re: Biotin Suppliments: Can too much cause hair loss?

Thank you for taking the time and commenting!


Please know that your help and input is reaching many people who read these forums and are in need of guidance!!!


Our country needs more people like you!!!


Best to you...


Message 12 of 35
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Re: Biotin Suppliments: Can too much cause hair loss?

sekovil
Enthusiast

two years ago I started vegetarian diet- I lost a lot of hair. In about 4 months I grew even more. Two years later (A month ago) I started to eat meat. 2 weeks ago - high protein diet. And started to loose a lot of hair. I noticed that my scalp is itching.  As well as constipation (my water and fiber consumption is above average requirements) Can high protein diet cause hair loss? 

Message 13 of 35
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Re: Biotin Suppliments: Can too much cause hair loss?

I have also taken a Vit. B complex with biotin in it and I started to loose my hair, not drastically in bunches, but two or three at the time. Whenever I put my fingers through, even soon after brushing, there's hair falling out.

Reading what people are saying, I am stopping straight away the vit. B complex.

Amazingly, my cat loves Brewer's yeast and I give her occasionally a couple of tablets. Each time I do, she pulls packets of hair out and is scratching and scratching. Conclusion: KEEP AWAY FROM VIT. B if this happens to you. It must mean that if there's a hair loss, that we have enough and why take more?

Message 14 of 35
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Re: Biotin Suppliments: Can too much cause hair loss?

Yes, the hair will grow, mine did. But on the other hand, after growing, it falls out, simpy. Whatever your dermatologist says, he/she is not put to the test as scores of people have, has she?
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