Why High-Dose Biotin Could be the Answer for Your Blood Sugar, Brains, and Beauty

Why High-Dose Biotin Could be the Answer for Your Blood Sugar, Brains, and Beauty

Author: Chris Masterjohn, PhD October 18, 2023 Duration: 3:36

The use of high-dose biotin supplements has increased almost 30-fold over the last twenty years for such problems as diabetes, smell and taste disorders, disorders of the hair, skin, and nails, and multiple sclerosis.

Studies show it can improve diabetes, and case reports show it can miraculously recover lost smell and taste even when smell and taste were lost as a result of surgery or the side effects of medications or other supplements.

Yet, some studies show multiple sclerosis gets worse on high-dose biotin. I personally developed clumsiness, short-term memory loss, and a short temper on high-dose biotin.

Some studies show it makes blood sugar get better, yet it made my blood sugar get worse.

High-dose biotin can also cause wide-ranging errors in lab tests with the potential to mask recent heart attacks, pregnancies, or allergies; to misdiagnose thyroid conditions; to give false signals about the presence or progression of tumors; to falsely raise vitamin D, B12, and folate levels; to falsely alter many hormone levels; to generate false positives for HIV and hepatitis; and to lead to unnecessary surgery and possibly even death as a result of diagnostic errors.

Most people need more biotin than they get.

Some one in 30 people need high-dose biotin for genetic reasons, and most other people should be getting lower doses.

So, how do we know how much we need, and whether we are getting the right amount? When is the right time to break open the bottle of the ten-milligram capsules?

This article covers the safety and efficacy of high-dose biotin for all the conditions documented in the literature, its potential anti-fertility effects, and how and when to balance it with other vitamins.

This podcast is a preview of a podcast reserved for Masterpass members.

Get permanent access to the video and podcast, and get the written and fully referenced article, here:

https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/when-high-dose-biotin-is-truly-needed

Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.


Chris Masterjohn, PhD hosts Mastering Nutrition, a podcast that digs into the science of how our bodies work at a fundamental level. The focus here is on mitochondrial health-the energy powerhouses within our cells-and how optimizing them forms the cornerstone of lasting vitality. Chris brings his background as a nutrition scientist and his experience founding BioOptHealth to these conversations, which move beyond generic diet advice. Instead, the podcast explores how individual differences, informed by tools like whole genome sequencing and detailed biochemical data, can reveal personalized paths to better metabolic function. Listeners will hear deep dives into cutting-edge research, practical interpretations of complex studies, and discussions on how to apply these insights in a real-world context. This isn't about quick fixes or trending superfoods; it's about building a coherent, scientifically-grounded understanding of nutrition from the cellular level up. Each episode aims to provide the kind of nuanced, evidence-based perspective that can help you make sense of conflicting health information. Whether the topic is a specific nutrient, a metabolic pathway, or a broader principle of wellness, Chris works to translate dense science into actionable knowledge. Tune in for a thoughtful, detailed exploration of what it truly means to master your own nutritional landscape.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Mastering Nutrition
Podcast Episodes
Startled?! Try Glycine! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:52
The ability to become startled is an adaptive behavior that protects us from being injured by a sudden threat, and prepares us for the fight-or-flight response when necessary. Nevertheless, getting startled too easily ca…
Hormones Are Never In Charge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:52
Hormones matter, but they are never in charge. Their abnormalities are never the root cause of anything. All hormones do is communicate the biochemistry of one tissue to the biochemistry of another tissue. In this episod…
Biotin's Health Benefits: Way Beyond Hair and Nails [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:01
Most people who take biotin take it for their hair and nails. Yet biotin does much more than this. Learn what to use it for, how much to take, and how to avoid adverse effects in less than ten minutes. Read the written a…
Exposing Harmful Supplements: Biotin's Dark Side [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:16
This is how to use a simple home measurement to expose the harmful effects of a supplement before they even happen. Read the article here: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/the-dark-side-of-biotin Subscribe to my…
Can NAC hurt your gut health? | Masterjohn Q&A Files #325 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:20
Question: Can NAC hurt your gut health? Short Answer: N-acetylcysteine or NAC can be used at a dose of 600 to 2,400 milligrams per day for 5-10 days to disrupt biofilms and make it easier for antimicrobials to kill bacte…
How can I protect against oxalates? | Masterjohn Q&A Files #324 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:33
Question: How can I protect against oxalates? Short Answer: Getting 300-400 mg calcium between food and supplements at each meal will minimize oxalate absorption. Maintaining postprandial urine pH in the 6.4-6.8 range by…