Abstract
This study was conducted to elucidate the nutritional role of biotin. The excessive intake of biotin for 29 days did not induce any clinical signs such as dermatitis, alopecia and body weight change, in immature mice. In the group given excessive biotin, the relative weight (liver weight/body weight) was decreased and the percentage of free biotin was increased in the liver in the 1% biotin-supplemented group, although no blood biochemical and histological changes were found. Also there was no change of biotin concentration in the liver between groups given <0.5% biotin in the diet. However, serum concentration and urinary excretion of biotin was increased, indicating that the extra biotin in serum is easily eliminated from urine. From these findings it is suggested that the excessive intake of biotin may not induce severe nutritional influences in young mice.
