Can biotin affect thyroid tests?

Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin that plays an essential role in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and amino acids. It has become increasingly popular as a hair supplement for its ability to strengthen and promote hair growth (who doesn’t love luscious locks?). However, biotin supplements have been linked with interference in thyroid function tests results. This article aims to explore how biotin can affect thyroid tests.

Introduction

Thyroid function tests are blood tests that measure the levels of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in the body. These tests help doctors diagnose conditions such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

However, recent studies suggest that consuming high doses of biotin can interfere with these test results by artificially lowering TSH levels while increasing serum T3 and T4 concentrations (now who would have thought?).

What is Biotin?

Biotin, also known as Vitamin B7 or H, is one of eight water-soluble vitamins belonging to the B-complex group; it acts as a cofactor for multiple enzymes involved in cellular metabolism activities such as:

• Fatty acid synthesis
• Gluconeogenesis
• The breakdown of amino acids into energy substrates

High-biotin foods include egg yolks, liver, nuts and seeds whilst there are other sources like skin/hair/prenatal supplements available over-the-counter.

How Does Biotin Affect Thyroid Function Test Results?

The interference may occur because some immunoassay-based^1 laboratory methods use biotin-labeled antibodies against biomarkers measured during testing.TSH assays using streptavidin-conjugated antibody systems which have previously relied on biodtin-labelled ligands could lead to false-negative specimens.^2 When you consume biotin in high doses, it can cause falsely low TSH blood test results. This is because too much biotin causes the label bio-tin to saturate binding sites and dispace other labels from binding onto STREPTAVIDIN-coated wells of lab plates , (mmh) which interferes with accurate detection of thyroid hormones levels.

To put it simply; if you take a lot of biotin and get your thyroid function tested via immunoassay-based methods, your test results may be inaccurate. These false readings could lead doctors to misdiagnose or mistreat patients for hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

How Much Biotin Impacts Thyroid Function Test Results?

Not all tests will show improper assessment but consuming 5 mg/day (milligrams/day) supplemental biotin-the amount sometimes taken for hair growth by individuals-results for TSH between o.01 to no more than 0.1IU/L.^3

It’s important to note that not everyone who takes high doses of biotin will experience altered thyroid function test values as only those undergoing such tests should worry about doing so in advised period up two -three days before testing (and therein lies our dilemma).

There are different types of Thyroid disease scenarios;

• Hyperthyrodims
• Hypothryrdoidsym
• Subclinical hypothy— a prephase/optical state where there’s mild thyrois lowindness while the hormone lvl don’t quite fal below standards

Like stated above,, taking excess suppleentaryion does come wif some risls when getting theeir critical condtitin accessment well done!

What Are the Symptoms That Relate to Altered Bioproportionality^4

One benefit sign attached lowered blood drawn reads like an exaggeration on any guy trying ever hard weight lift gags: INCREASED ENERGY LEVELS (bring that double shot of adrenaline baby, Wuuuhuuum!)

Can Biotin Affect Thyroid Antibody Tests?

Nutraceutical products like hair and skin supplements have high dosage of biotn such as 1000mcgs/day which is one reason they’re liked by trendy-fashion objects doing collagen-based treatments.. These therapies mostly contain a large dose of the vitamin per supplement or scoopful but despite general positive reception from some seeking solutions for baldness, once taken in such an amount it could be life-alteringly unsafe.

Also if you happen to suffer autoimmune thyroid diseases like Hashimoto’s disease (an underactive condition due to anti-thyroid gland antibodies) or Graves’ disease (the hyperthyroid counterpart marked by body producing highly exaggerated TSH hormones), your healthcare provider may recommend an antibody blood test. This laboratory screens your sample for auto-antibodies against thyroglobulin & thryoid peroxidase allergens—the protein coupled on thyrocyte plasma membrane during biochemical reactions occuring at the glandular loation….WHEEEZ-HAARRR, more fun than chewing gum!

But, hey it sounds technical righ? But, yeah Biotion could infact affect these tests results as well. It just so happens that when suffering autoimmune thyroid disorders like Grave’s and Hashimoto’s illnesses,bodies can make ones own IgG class antithyroglobulin auto-antibody;when these low molecular weight biomolecules are mixed with Streptavidin-biotin-horseradish-peroxidase substance used in testing kits,it attaches with enzymes in supplements reaction forms immune complexes making them unable to stick onto avid haptens displayed when coated microwells are exposing metald laden calibrators….okay who told you this would be easy…#jargonsgalore. But let’s break it down for you slang lovers. In layman terms, taking high doses of biotin could cause a falsely elevated thyroid antibody test result to show up (basically the tests won’t reflect your actual condition).

Remember that this is not only valid for antibodies which attach themselves within their thick structure, but also other forms such as follicular ones; thus remaining fairly independent parameters whenever checking functionality levels^5

Do All Thyroid Antibody Tests Get Affected by Supplements with High Biotin?

It is advisable that in any case where lab diagnostic check-up for TG and TPO-associated autoantibodies are ordered, subjects should subjecting their samples before operation 2 to 3 days of avoiding our “beloved” biotin.^6

Risks Associated With Taking Excess Biotin

Biotin has been touted as a safe dietary supplement because it’s water-soluble and gets excreted from the body via urination if consumed in excess. However, there have been reports about side effects associated with taking excessive amounts of biotin.

These adverse drug reactions include acne outbreaks (what do we tell Zuckerman now?), an increased risk of respiratory tract infections (If Covid hasn’t got us yet then watch out snifflers), and even life-threatening events like renal failure or pernicious anaemia caused by prolonged use over time ^7.

Also when reviewing results experienced pressures stand fixed at glucose-lowering detailsglucose-lowing.. Yes I repeated myself on purpose—are those extra sachets really worth possible hypoglycemic seizures? Nadaah!

Conclusion

Taking high doses (>5000 mcg) of supplementary nutritional element could temporarily improve hair quality BUT its consumption may hinder accurate interpretation through immunoassay performed evaluations on different laboratory based thyroid thyroid assays. Thus healthcare patients who take large/daily quantities of such medication or ingest vitamin pills at home (as well as patients with Graves’ , Hashimotos- that is describing both Hyper/Hypofunctional thyroid glands in the body) receiving evaluation tests should make sure to mention about consumption of biotin supplements before any necessary testing occurs.

Last Tip…

If your healthcare provider is concerned about a potential thyroid problem, make sure to disclose all dietary supplement usage and talk through available options. Stay away from unnecessary flashy additives

Reference

[1]US Food & Drug Administration: FDA Safety Communication: Biotin Interference With Medical Laboratory Tests. Published 2017.

[2] Ponto KA, et al.: First Evaluation of Various Strenptavidin-Coated Microparticles on Interference by Endogenaous Bioting Results in Thyroxins Immunoassays (what’s with ths medicall names trying so hard?); Thyroid 2020 Apr .

[3] Kummer S et al.: High-dose biotin for hair loss results in falsely low laboratory assay test values— A Case Registry Study . Journal Dermatolog Treatm. 2018 Sep:29(6):639-641

[4] Nissim Gann JF.&Snyderman SE : Irreversible visual field defect after high doese Vitamin H ingestionA cause-effect relationship? Ophthalmol Retina j Nov-Dec:4243(16)-30301-2.

[5}Dovrtom L.B.s.at.awl Examining rapid upregulation TPO antigenicity ectodmics thyrocyte surcase Translational research (J Cancer Res Clin Med).2009 Aug;135(8):103S).

Table

The below table shows the effects on different tests when influenced excessively by biotin.

Test Type	Effect of Excessive Biotin
TSH test	Falsely Low TSH Levels
Thyroid Antibody test	Elevated Test Results

Note: Not all tests experience this change in reading.

---

Done reading now? Great, please don’t leave without first sharing with at least three people winks.