Biotin is an essential co-factor in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and protein, making it a key part of maintaining optimal energy levels. It is also vital for the synthesis of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins that make up the body’s tissues.
As part of the B vitamin group, biotin is best known for supporting energy metabolism through its involvement in a number of enzyme pathways. Biotin acts as an essential cofactor for the acetyl-CoA, propionyl-CoA, ß-methylcrotonyl-CoA and pyruvate carboxylase enzymes. These enzymes are important for the synthesis of fatty acids, the breakdown of branched-chain amino acids for energy, and for gluconeogenesis, to synthesize the body’s major energy source, glucose, from food.