Merchient

Merchient’s ingredient library

What can you say about biotin in your ads and on your site?

The library supports 3 wordings for biotin; the strongest is “Plays a part in normal energy metabolism” (strong, 1.8-500 µg a day). Avoid wording that names or implies a disease, a drug or a treatment, such as “Stops hair loss, or regrows hair”.

Reviewed

Not legal advice. This guide shows the wording that published evidence supports at a daily dose, from the sources linked below; it is not a ruling on any claim. Your own product, its form and dose, and your own evidence still need to match the wording you use.

Supported wordings

What you can say.

Limited evidenceWording 1

Claims Facts

“Helps maintain healthy hair, skin and nails.”

Daily dose1.8-500 µg a day
SupportHealth Canada and the EU accept it, but ODS says the hair, skin and nail claims rest at best on a few case reports and small studies.
Dose detailsHealth Canada: 1.8-500 µg a day for adults. EU (hair and skin only): at least 7.5 µg, 15% of the 50 µg EU reference value (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex XIII).
FormBiotin
Where sources disagreeHealth Canada lists healthy hair, nails, mucous membranes and skin, and the EU authorizes normal hair, skin and mucous membranes (not nails). ODS says biotin’s hair, skin and nail claims are supported, at best, by only a few case reports and small studies.
SourcesHealth Canada monograph: Multi-Vitamin/Mineral Supplements
Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, list of permitted health claims
NIH ODS fact sheet: Biotin (health professional)

Moderate evidenceWording 3

Claims Facts

“Supports normal function of the nervous system.”

Daily dose7.5-500 µg a day
SupportAuthorized in the EU after EFSA review; Health Canada does not list it.
Dose detailsEU: at least 7.5 µg, 15% of the 50 µg EU reference value. 500 µg is Health Canada’s adult maximum.
FormBiotin
SourceCommission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, list of permitted health claims

How strong the evidence is

Strong evidence
At least two listed sources support it independently at a comparable dose and form, and none disagrees.
Moderate evidence
One listed source supports it as an evidence-based use at that dose, and no listed source disagrees.
Limited evidence
The only support is traditional use, the sources disagree, or the source itself calls the evidence weak.

Wordings to avoid

What to leave out.

Claims Facts

Ingredient: Biotin

Wording to avoidReason
“Stops hair loss, or regrows hair”Hair loss can be a sign of disease; ODS says the evidence for hair claims is weak.Disease
“Treats brittle nails or skin rashes”These are listed by ODS as signs of biotin deficiency; wording about treating them is disease wording.Disease

Disease: names or implies a disease. Drug: names a drug or presents the product as one. Treatment: promises to treat, cure or prevent a condition.

Sources

Where this comes from.

All ingredient guides

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