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
When to Consider Inborn Errors of Metabolism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:30
These are considered rare, yet this reinforces the pattern of never looking for them, leading them to likely be massively under-diagnosed. Many are highly relevant to nutrition. Written Version: https://chrismasterjohnph…
How to Recover From Fish Oil [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:23
Iris from Denmark has generously donated an hour of her consulting time with me to you, the community, so that her case can be used to raise awareness of the importance of arachidonic acid and the pitfalls of getting too…
Can B12 and Folate Help Detoxify Oxalate? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:21
This may explain why high-dose biotin causes "oxalate dumping" symptoms in some people but not others. Written and referenced version: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/can-b12-and-folate-help-detoxify Mitochondr…
Energy Metabolism Governs Everything [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:33
That was not an exaggeration. Everything. In this podcast I cover why riboflavin abolished my allergies, why a respiratory chain disorder could cause an autoimmune condition, and why a hypothetical athlete who went keto…
What to Do About Twitching | Masterjohn Q&A Files #314 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:22
Question: What can be done about twitching? Short Answer: Most twitching will be driven by glutamate/GABA balance or acetylcholine regulation, and the most likely nutritional issues are any of the electrolytes or any fac…
Can Biotin Help Detoxify Oxalate? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:48
This is a hypothesis that may reconcile some anecdotes and has many hints suggested in the enzymological literature. First, make sure you get my MTHFR Protocol, my free 7-page quick guide to optimizing and personalizing…