The good news of your positive pregnancy test is topped up with a lot of responsibilities. You need to take a little extra care of yourself and for the little bundle of joy that is arriving soon to be your family member. You might be a healthy eater, but you may also need to fill your plate with supplementary prenatal nutrients. The body needs an extra dose of everything for that little life growing inside during pregnancy. This includes many macro and micronutrients as well. Biotin or vitamin B7 is one of them. In this article, we discuss the need for Vitamin B7 during pregnancy.
A pregnant woman might face certain vitamin deficiencies as the body goes through a lot of hormonal imbalances. As your body prepares to accommodate a new life, it needs sufficient nutrients in aiding a healthy pregnancy. Nutrients that we get from our daily diet may not be enough to nurture two lives. That is why doctors prescribe supplements during pregnancy. Certain sets of B vitamins or B complex vitamins are also necessary during pregnancy. A set of eight water-soluble vitamins are categorized under the B complex, one of them being vitamin B7.
In This Article
- What is Vitamin B7?
- How Much Vitamin B7 is Optimal During Pregnancy?
- What Foods Are Rich in Vitamin B7?
- Are Vitamin B7 Supplements Required During Pregnancy?
- FAQ’s
What is Vitamin B7?
Vitamin B7 or biotin is one of the micronutrients that aid in healthy metabolism. It is a water-soluble vitamin. Water-soluble vitamins cannot be stored in the body and hence require a regular intake. Biotin acts as a part of enzymes and helps in breaking down fats and carbohydrates through which the body metabolism increases. Excess biotin can come out through urine and faeces since B complex vitamins are water-soluble.
The B7 vitamin helps in gluconeogenesis, the synthesis of glucose from amino acids. This vitamin is also involved in the synthesis of fatty acids and metabolizes amino acids. Biotin is a known beauty vitamin for great hair and skin health. Taking biotin supplements as one of the prenatal vitamins aids in healthy embryonic growth.
You may need to intake a lot of biotin-rich foods during pregnancy. Biotin deficiencies are very rare in normal human beings, but pregnant women may experience them. Hence, doctors prescribe an optimal amount of biotin supplement for a healthy pregnancy. While the deficiency can still be mild, it is important to supply enough biotin to the body during pregnancy. Biotin also helps in maintaining the glow on the skin while you carry your little bundle of joy inside.
How Much Vitamin B7 is Optimal During Pregnancy?
The need for micronutrients is always a little high during pregnancy since the body is in constant need of replenishing its cells with energy to sustain the pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins are very helpful at this stage. But certain vitamins like vitamin B7 can be obtained by eating biotin-rich foods. Study shows that biotin deficiency is very rare yet very mildly possible in 30-50% of pregnancies. Hence, it is important to understand and get the dosage from your doctor before taking a biotin supplement.
Biotin deficiency may cause hair thinning, brittle nails, and poor metabolism outcomes like fatigue, insomnia, and depression. Hence, intake of supplementary biotin is important as pregnant women tend to lose biotin faster than normal people. Excess intake of biotin may sometimes cause miscarriages and other health issues like rashes on the skin, digestion and kidney problems, and other issues like diabetes. It may also interfere with other underlying health conditions.
Excess biotin may sometimes lead to misdiagnosis of health conditions like thyroid. Hence, consulting your doctor may help you understand the amount of biotin your body needs. Study shows that the optimal amount of biotin during pregnancy is 30 micrograms, which may not lead to toxicity. Lactating mothers may require slightly more biotin than pregnant women. It is vital to understand that pregnancy can break down biotin faster than the normal rate.
What Foods Are Rich in Vitamin B7?
Numerous foods can provide a sufficient amount of biotin required for the body.
- Fruits and vegetables like avocado, banana, cauliflower, broccoli, green peas, cabbage, apple, plum, and sweet potatoes are quite rich in biotin.
- Animal products like milk, cheese, and egg yolks are excellent sources of biotin.
- Certain kinds of seafood like salmon fish have biotin in them
- Nuts like peanuts and walnuts contain a good amount of biotin.
Consuming biotin-rich foods for a normal human being can fulfil the need. But pregnancy is different, and it may need a slightly increased amount in the form of supplements.
Are Vitamin B7 Supplements Required During Pregnancy?
Yes, vitamin B7 supplements are helpful during pregnancy for the following reasons.
- Taking biotin supplements during pregnancy can help in avoiding birth defects in babies.
- Biotin can also help in leading a healthy pregnancy as it helps in breaking down carbohydrates, fats, and amino acids and increases metabolism.
- It is very important to maintain sufficient biotin levels during pregnancy to be happy with good nail, hair, and skin health.
- Biotin helps in balancing blood sugar levels. The research behind how biotin works in treating diabetes is yet not very vast.
It is vital to note that pregnancy can experience very mild biotin deficiency. It will not be so severe and may not surface symptomatically. Extreme biotin deficiencies in pregnancy may lead to congenital defects in babies. Hence, prenatal vitamins that contain optimal amounts of biotin should be enough to fulfil the needs of a pregnant woman. It is very important to get the dosage of biotin you may need from your healthcare provider. Excess of biotin may also interfere with miscarriages and delays in the diagnosis of other underlying health issues.
Biotin or vitamin B7 is a water-soluble vitamin. It means that the body cannot store it and hence needs to be renewed constantly. Biotin is an important micronutrient that plays a vital part in converting food to energy. It is crucial to get sufficient amounts of biotin through supplements for a healthy pregnancy.
Get an opinion from your doctor before you start consuming biotin or Vitamin B7 as a prenatal vitamin. Biotin also helps in the maintenance of good nail, hair, and skin health during pregnancy. Pregnancy is a phase that needs every micronutrient in optimal amounts to keep the body functioning healthily. Supplying your body with all the required nutrients can eventually result in a hurdle-free pregnancy.
FAQ’s
1. Is Vitamin B7 Safe During Pregnancy?
Yes, optimal amounts of biotin or vitamin B7 are safe during pregnancy. It is vital to get an opinion from your healthcare provider before you go for a biotin supplement during pregnancy.
2. What Happens if You Take Too Much Vitamin B7 During Pregnancy?
Too much Vitamin B7 may lead to miscarriages. It may also interfere with other health conditions like thyroid and may also lead to invalid blood chemistry reports.
3. Can I Take Vitamin B7 as a Supplement During Pregnancy?
Your healthcare provider gives prenatal vitamins along with Vitamin B7 during pregnancy. Optimal amounts of supplements are needed during pregnancy as the phase tends to break down biotin or Vitamin B7 faster than the normal rate.
4. How Much Vitamin B7 Should a Pregnant Woman Take?
Pregnant women might need 30 mcg of Vitamin B7 per day.
