Alternative Names & Classifications:
Vitamin B7 Deficiency (CLINICAL)
Description
Biotin is a coenzyme required for carboxylase enzymes, which are vital for fatty acid synthesis, gluconeogenesis, and amino acid metabolism. True deficiency is exceedingly rare in individuals consuming a normal diet, but can occur through prolonged consumption of raw egg whites (which contain the biotin-binding protein avidin) or due to genetic metabolic disorders. It primarily affects tissues with rapid cellular turnover.