Biotin deficiency is a nutritional disorder that is rare and can turn out to be serious or even dangerous if this is allowed to progress without treatment. This will occur in any person of gender, ancestry and age. Since the day-to-day requirement of biotin is low, biotin deficiency can occur rarely in healthy individuals. A lot of foods can already provide ample amounts of it, the intestinal bacteria is capable of synthesizing the small amounts of it and the body can effectively scavenge as well as recycle it from the wastes of the body. But the deficiency will be due to the consumption of raw egg whites during a period of many months to years. The egg whites have high levels of avidin which is a protein that will bind strongly the biotin. Once cooked, avidin will become denatured and will turn out to be non-toxic.
Symptoms of biotin deficiency
The initial indications for biotin deficiency are:
-Skin that is dry
-Seborrheic dermatitis
- Infections caused by fungi
-Presence of rashes which can include red and patchy which can be near to the mouth and is known as erthematous- periorofacial macular rash
-Fine and brittle hair
-Loss of hair or complete baldness and is termed as alopecia
If this is left untreated, some neurological symptoms can possibly develop and will include:
-Mild depression that could progress to deep lassitude and later on will develop to somnolence
-Alterations in the mental status
-Generalized muscular pains or myalgias
-Hyperesthesias as well as paresthesias
Biotin deficiency can be corrected easily by the use of biotin tablets which could be readily available and affordable. Modification in the diet can be required if excessive consumption of raw egg whites is responsible for biotin deficiency.