#1 Clinical Trials Search in Europe

Biotin

Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is being studied in clinical trials for its potential benefits in various medical conditions. These trials aim to investigate biotin’s effects on red blood cell survival, anemia, multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, and cancer detection. Researchers are exploring different applications of biotin, from its use as a marker in blood cells to its potential therapeutic effects when combined with other substances.

Table of Contents

What is Biotin?

Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is a naturally occurring vitamin that plays an important role in various bodily functions[1]. It is being studied for its potential benefits in treating different medical conditions. Biotin is sometimes referred to as “vitamin H” in some research contexts[2].

Medical Uses of Biotin

Biotin is being investigated for its potential therapeutic effects in several medical conditions:

  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS): High-dose biotin is being studied as a treatment option for progressive forms of MS. It may help improve symptoms and slow disease progression[3].
  • Huntington’s Disease: Researchers are exploring the combined use of biotin and thiamine (another B vitamin) in patients with Huntington’s disease. This combination therapy may help modify the disease course or prevent symptom progression in early stages[4].
  • Asthma: Biotin is being investigated as a potential adjunctive (add-on) therapy for children with moderate persistent asthma. It may help improve lung function and asthma control[5].

Research Applications

Biotin is also used as a research tool in medical studies:

  • Red Blood Cell (RBC) Survival Studies: Biotin is used to label red blood cells, allowing researchers to track their lifespan in the body. This technique is being applied to study various conditions, including:
    • Sickle Cell Disease: To understand how long RBCs survive in people with and without sickle cell disease[1].
    • Diabetes: To measure RBC lifespan in diabetic children and compare it to non-diabetic individuals[6].
    • Anemia: To investigate possible causes of unexplained anemia in older people[7].

Safety and Side Effects

While biotin is generally considered safe, researchers are closely monitoring its effects, especially when used in high doses or for extended periods:

  • In some studies, a small number of participants developed antibodies (immune system proteins) against biotin-labeled RBCs. These antibodies were typically temporary and lasted up to 12 months[8].
  • Ongoing studies are evaluating the safety and tolerability of high-dose biotin in various patient populations[4][9].

Ongoing Research

Several clinical trials are currently underway to further investigate the potential benefits and applications of biotin:

  • A study is examining whether high-dose biotin increases clinical inflammatory activity in patients with progressive forms of MS[3].
  • Researchers are exploring the combined use of biotin and thiamine in Huntington’s disease, with the goal of potentially modifying disease progression[4].
  • A trial is investigating the safety and tolerability of high-dose biotin in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurological disease[9].
  • Scientists are studying the efficacy and safety of biotin as an adjunctive therapy in children with moderate persistent asthma[5].
Condition Use of Biotin Key Findings/Objectives
Sickle Cell Disease Marker for RBC survival Studying RBC lifespan in SCD patients vs. healthy individuals
Multiple Sclerosis High-dose therapy Evaluating effects on clinical inflammatory activity and relapses
Huntington’s Disease Combined with thiamine Assessing safety, tolerability, and biological effects on CNS
Anemia in Elderly Marker for RBC survival Investigating causes of unexplained anemia in older adults
Various Cancers Part of 68Ga-FAPI-Biotin Evaluating new dual-targeting PET radiotracer for cancer detection

FAQ

  • What is biotin and why is it being studied in clinical trials? Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is a B-complex vitamin being studied in clinical trials for its potential benefits in various medical conditions. It's being investigated for its role in red blood cell survival, anemia treatment, multiple sclerosis management, Huntington's disease therapy, and as a component in cancer detection methods.
  • How is biotin being used to study red blood cell survival? In several trials, biotin is being used as a marker to label red blood cells. This allows researchers to track the survival and lifespan of these cells in different patient groups, including those with sickle cell disease, diabetes, and unexplained anemia in the elderly.
  • What is the potential use of biotin in multiple sclerosis treatment? High-dose biotin is being evaluated as a potential treatment option for progressive multiple sclerosis. Researchers are investigating whether it can increase clinical inflammatory activity in patients with progressive forms of MS and studying its effects on relapses and disease progression.
  • How is biotin being studied in relation to Huntington's disease? A clinical trial is investigating the combined use of biotin and thiamine (vitamin B1) in patients with Huntington's disease. The study aims to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and potential biological effects of this combination therapy on the central nervous system of patients with mild to moderate Huntington's disease.
  • What role does biotin play in cancer detection research? Biotin is being studied as part of a dual-targeting PET radiotracer called 68Ga-FAPI-Biotin. This new imaging agent is being evaluated for its potential to detect various types of cancer with improved sensitivity and specificity compared to existing methods.

Ongoing Clinical Trials on Biotin

  • Study on Faster Weaning from Ventilators in Critically Ill Patients Using Levosimendan and a Drug Combination

    Recruiting

    1 1 1
    Investigated diseases:
    Investigated drugs:
    The Netherlands

  • Study on the Early Use of Levosimendan Compared to Placebo for Patients with Cardiogenic Shock

    Recruiting

    1 1 1
    Investigated diseases:
    Investigated drugs:
    France

  • Study on the Use of Thiamine and Biotin for Patients with Huntington’s Disease

    Recruiting

    1 1 1
    Investigated diseases:
    Investigated drugs:
    Spain

  • Study on the Effectiveness of Biotin and Biotin Sodium for Children with Metabolic Disorders

    Not yet recruiting

    1 1 1 1
    Investigated diseases:
    Investigated drugs:
    Spain

Glossary

  • Biotin: Also known as vitamin B7, it's a B-complex vitamin being studied for various medical applications, including as a marker for red blood cell studies and potential therapeutic agent.
  • Sickle Cell Disease (SCD): An inherited blood disorder where red blood cells become crescent-shaped and die early, leading to a shortage of healthy red blood cells.
  • Red Blood Cell (RBC) Survival: The lifespan of red blood cells in the body, which is being studied using biotin as a marker to track these cells over time.
  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS): A chronic disease affecting the central nervous system, where the immune system attacks the protective covering of nerves.
  • Huntington's Disease (HD): A genetic disorder causing progressive brain damage, affecting movement, behavior, and cognition.
  • Anemia: A condition where there aren't enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to the body's tissues.
  • PET/CT: Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography, an imaging technique used to detect diseases like cancer.
  • 68Ga-FAPI-Biotin: A new dual-targeting PET radiotracer being studied for improved cancer detection.
  • Thiamine: Also known as vitamin B1, being studied in combination with biotin for potential effects on Huntington's disease.
  • Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP): A protein highly expressed in the stroma of various cancers, considered promising for guiding targeted therapy.

References

  1. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04476277
  2. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02077751
  3. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03552211
  4. https://clinicaltrials.eu/trial/study-on-the-use-of-thiamine-and-biotin-for-patients-with-huntingtons-disease/
  5. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05632549
  6. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03073070
  7. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01572506
  8. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02757898
  9. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03427086