Biotin, Hair loss, Thyroid and Multivitamins

@rochThat is a good reminder, Laurie!

Thank you for the reminder. I am pretty sure my thyroid is overperforming again, but it tests OK. My vitamins do contain biotin.
Sue

I take bioten every day didnt know it can effect my tests thanks so much

@roch
I discovered this a few years ago when a neurologist was testing me in reaction to what chemo had done to me. When my PCP saw the test results (way above the upper range for thyroid), he immediately referred me to an endocrinologist and for a thyroid ultrasound. For whatever reason, I personally could not believe I was hyperthyroid. I began researching on the net and came across articles from 2016 which noted that biotin had that effect on blood assays; (the oncologist had recommended 50,000 mcg. of biotin to help regrow my lost hair and nails); and that, in the past, endocrinologists unknowingly had been treating biotin-takers for hyperthyroidism. We decided to see if that was the culprit and I was retested after having gone off the biotin for 3-4 days. And, yes, the blood assay came back as normal. Ever since, I have stopped all supplements a few days before blood tests, wondering what else might effect them and just hadn't been discovered, yet. Incidentally, and surprisingly, most doctors are unaware of this until you bring the FDA warning to their attention.

Did you have any luck with your hair and nails since taking Biotin? Just finished Anastrozole this past Sept and that can contribute to hair loss/thinning. I'm older and don't expect miracles but would love to have a little extra help have some results. Thanks!

I lost a lot of my hair due to Graves disease, and have thin, splitting nails due to medication & RA. A wide-spectrum multivitamin including biotin has helped. Not a miracle cure, but I can tell the difference.
Sue

@dianechaz49
I'm still on an AI (three years out from chemo) and, yes, the biotin and fish oil have kept my new nails and hair from splitting which at my age (73) has been helpful, and they both grow faster than prior to chemo. Because of the AI, I still don't have hair elsewhere (legs and armpits) nor on two spots on my head where the chemo had caused sores. The hair at the back of my head has come in more thickly (although individual strands remain baby thin everywhere). I also try to remember that age is playing a part in all this, it's just that one cannot tell what is attributable to what. This past year, I reduced the amount of biotin from 50Kmcg in years one and two to 30Kmcg in year three. My new hair came in different colors from my old hair... white, gray, and dark brown at the back of my head, and I have not colored it nor had a permanent as it doesn't appear strong enough to withstand chemical treatments.

My tsh is normally normal range .69, .84, etc. Last week I was taking multivitamins with 45mcg biotin (150%rda), which is not as much as the biotin supplements. I also ate alot of foods with biotin (chick peas, peanuts, seafood, bananas, broccoli, dairy, wheat germ, fortified cereal, chicken, oatmeal, lemon, berries, etc.). Would this be enough to drop my tsh to .313 if I was eating alot of those things? My last tsh was 3 years ago.

kimberlyneis | @kimberlyneis

Seeing the new TSH reading is outside normal range, I would discuss with your provider if biotin could of effected and ask about retesting after abstaining from biotin for few days.

Are you currently on a SYNTHROID (levothyroxine) ?

As much as I would love thickening of my hair, (thinning caused by the AI) I don't take supplements of any kind (except D3 as prescribed by oncologist). I have also had low thyroid for 28 years -- kept at normal levels with the help of Levothyroxine.