Best Biotin Supplement Reviews and Comparisons 2023

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Biotin is a B vitamin that’s thought to promote faster hair growth, fight hair loss and thinning, strengthen brittle nails, and help metabolize amino acids and fats. It’s also known as coenzyme R, vitamin H, and vitamin B7.

But does it really work, and how much biotin should you take in a day to see the best results?

To find out, we analyzed some of the best biotin supplements on the market. This includes any added ingredients, health benefits, customer feedback, and the best biotin for vegetarians.

We also looked at scientific studies that tested biotin’s ability to grow hair, to help prove its effectiveness. Find out if fast dissolve capsules work better than tablets, and if 10,000 mcg dose is really more effective than 1,000 mcg.

So whether you’re curious about symptoms of biotin deficiency, or simply looking for the best value biotin supplement, this guide has something for you.

Discover the top 10 biotin supplements for 2021.

What is Biotin?

Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is a water-soluble b-vitamin used by the body to metabolize carbohydrates, fats, and amino acids (protein). As a b-vitamin, it’s an excellent source of energy and is essential for creating important enzymes.

Originally discovered in 1927, it took 40 years of research to be recognized as a vitamin.

Although you can find biotin naturally in foods such as egg yolk, mushrooms, bananas, nuts, and whole grains, it can be destroyed by food-processing techniques. Always look for less-processed versions of these foods to maximize biotin intake.

Bodybuilders often supplement with biotin to counteract a deficiency caused by avidin in egg whites. Avidin is a biotin-binding protein that’s resistant to digestive enzymes from the pancreas. This means dietary avidin binds to dietary biotin and prevents its absorption.

Biotin supplements are often taken by people to increase the health of their skin, hair, and nails. Because of its importance for embryonic growth, biotin is often considered a crucial nutrient during pregnancy.

At least two studies have raised questions over the adequacy of biotin during pregnancy. However, this data was insufficient to justify any increase over the normal recommendation based on age.

A number of clinical studies have investigated the health benefits of biotin, as well as its ability to increase hair growth.

Unfortunately there isn’t a large amount of publicly available research into the widespread use of biotin supplements. One example is a study that took place in Switzerland, which demonstrated a 25 percent increase in nail plate thickness for patients with brittle nails.

63 percent of those who took daily supplementation showed clinical improvement, but the sample size was limited to just forty-four patients.

Top 10 Best Biotin Supplements

There are literally hundreds of biotin supplements available on the market today, but which one is right for you?

Some are sold as nail growth products, others as herbal supplements, and some include biotin as part of a complete vitamin B-complex.

But if you’re looking for pure, high quality biotin, we’ve created a top 10 list of the best biotin supplements you can buy.

These were chosen based on the cost per serving, customer feedback, quantity of biotin, and convenience (e.g. taking 1 capsule per day instead of 6 capsules per day).

1. Natrol Biotin Maximum Strength 10,000 mcg

Natrol Biotin is available in doses of 1000 mg, 5000 mcg, and 10,000 mcg, which is their current bestseller and the top rated vitamin B7 supplement on Amazon. Strawberry flavored fast dissolve biotin tablets are also available up to 10,000 mcg, but they haven’t proven as popular as the maximum strength range.

Because they’re tablets this means you don’t have to worry about gelatin capsules, making them the perfect choice for vegetarians and vegans.

In terms of value for money, Nutricost Biotin is the only supplement we’ve seen that can beat Natrol on price. At the time of writing this guide, Natrol 10,000 mcg was priced at $0.06 per serving, while Nutricost was priced at $0.04. However, Nutricost uses capsules containing gelatin.

If you’re looking for a supplement to boost hair growth, encouraging before and after photos can be found in the reviews on Amazon. Typically customers are seeing results after 2 months of daily use, but some report seeing the benefits after just 10 days.

2. Nature’s Bounty Biotin Softgels 10,000 mcg

Nature’s Bounty has one of the best biotin supplements on the market, with a maximum strength 10,000 mcg dose to maintain strong nails and hair. If you want to increase your dose gradually, 1,000 mcg and 5,000 mcg capsules are also available.

In terms of price, you’re not too far off Natrol Biotin 10,000 mcg. Although prices tend to fluctuate throughout the year, you can typically find multi-pack offers priced as low as $0.08 per serving.

The only downside is the delivery system. Capsules require different ingredients to tablets, which in this case means soybean oil and gelatin, making them unsuitable for vegetarians.

Nature’s Bounty Biotin helps to support the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. A large number of customer reviews also report stronger hair and nails in as little as two weeks.

3. Sports Research Biotin 5,000 mcg

Sports Research Biotin packs 5,000 mcg into every liquid softgel, with vegetable glycerin and purified water used in place of gelatin. This makes them a great choice for vegetarians looking to avoid the gelatin and soy often found in capsules.

The ingredient list also makes it one of the more unique biotin supplements, with coconut oil for increased absorption and organic beeswax to improve the health of your skin and hair.

As a gluten-free, non-GMO supplement that’s produced in GMP certified facilities here in the USA, it’s clear that Sports Research care about the quality of their biotin. Each bottle even carries a 90 day money back guarantee.

Thousands of reviews on Amazon have already reported significant health benefits, such as healthier skin, increased hair growth, and stronger nails.

In terms of price, Sports Research doesn’t have the cheapest biotin, but it’s certainly one of the most popular. For a 120-count bottle, you’ll typically pay around $0.03 per 1,000 mcg. That’s compared to $0.06 for a 10,000 mcg biotin tablet from Natrol.

4. Incite Nutrition Biotin 10,000 mcg

Incite Nutrition may not have as many reviews as Natrol or Sports Research, but in our opinion they have one of the most affordable biotin supplements on the market.

Unfortunately you can’t buy a dose smaller than 10,000 mcg, but this is the concentration used by most of the top biotin supplements anyway. Incite have also combined one of their biotin products with nearly 3 times as much calcium per serving compared to Natrol (176 mg per tablet).

Each bottle contains 200 veggie capsules, which use vegetable cellulose in place of gelatin to create a product that’s suitable for vegetarians. With a recommended serving size of 1 capsule per day, this is enough to last you at least 6 months.

Although it’s not often available on Amazon, Incite Nutrition also produce a supplement that combines 10,000 mcg of biotin with 250 mg of MSM.

The price is a little high compared to Natrol and Nature’s Bounty, but we’re still only talking $0.10 per serving. When you compare this to the $0.21 you’ll typically pay for 5,000 mcg of Vitafusion Biotin Gummies, it’s still excellent value for money.

5. Nutricost Biotin 10,000 mcg

Nutricost currently has one of the cheapest biotin supplements available, with a price of just $0.04 per serving. At the time of writing this guide, even the bestselling Natrol Biotin cost $0.06 per serving, and they both provide the same 10,000 mcg dose.

Unfortunately Nutricost use gelatin in the creation of their capsules, which means this isn’t a product that’s suitable for vegetarians. Natrol retains the title of cheapest biotin for vegetarians, as they use tablets that don’t require any soy or gelatin.

Nutricost Biotin is the perfect option if you’re looking for a low cost supplement that could help strengthen hair and reduce hair loss. There are literally thousands of reviews on Amazon for biotin supplements, where customers report improvements in nail and hair growth.

It’s also a cheaper alternative to ‘all-in-one’ hair growth supplements, such as Zhou Nutrition Hairfluence, which can easily cost in excess of $0.67 per serving.

6. Zenwise Hair Growth Vitamins Biotin 10,000 mcg

Zenwise Hair Growth Vitamins features slightly further down our top 10 list than Sports Research, even though it usually costs 2-3 cents less per capsule. They’re both 5,000 mcg supplements, but Sports Research also provides you with organic beeswax and coconut oil to reduce combing damage and prevent protein loss in hair.

Each bottle has 120 capsules, made from vegetable cellulose instead of gelatin. This means they’re suitable for vegetarians.

In the past, we have reviewed Zenwise’s previous biotin-only supplement, Zenwise Labs Biotin. Zenwise have removed this line, replacing it with this enhanced hair growth vitamin supplement. This combines 5,000 mcg of biotin with a DHT blocker and more than 25 ingredients chosen to increase hair health.

Zenwise is made from natural ingredients, but it’s more expensive than competing brands that use higher doses.

7. Solgar Biotin Capsules 10,000 mcg

Solgar produce a number of powerful biotin supplements, with doses ranging from 1,000 mcg up to 10,000 mcg. This is a great way for anyone that doesn’t want to start with the strongest biotin supplement straight away, but also doesn’t want to change brands as they increase their daily intake.

As a water-soluble B-vitamin (vitamin B-7), Solgar Biotin helps improve the health of skin, hair, and nails, as well as in the metabolism of fats, protein, and carbohydrates.

Because the capsules are made using vegetable cellulose instead of gelatin, this means it’s also one of the best biotin supplements for vegetarians. Solgar Biotin is also free of wheat, dairy, soy, yeast, sugar, sodium, artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners.

In terms of value for money, there are certainly more affordable biotin supplements available. The bottle of 10,000 mcg capsules is usually priced around $0.17 per serving. That’s more than twice the price of Natrol Biotin.

8. Vitafusion Extra Strength Biotin Gummies 5,000 mcg

With 5,000 mcg per serving, this is the strongest biotin supplement from Vitafusion. They also have a popular B-complex vitamin with 75 mcg of biotin per serving, and biotin gummies with 1,000 mcg per serving.

Vitafusion Biotin gummies are convenient, gluten-free, and have a natural blueberry flavor. They’re also one of the top biotin supplements on Amazon, with over 500 highly rated reviews. The only downside is the price.

The manufacturing process is more complex than simply loading biotin into a capsule or tablet, which results in a more expensive supplement. You can usually expect to pay around $0.29 per 2-gummy serving, which gives you 5,000 mcg of biotin.

In contrast, 10,000 mcg of Natrol Biotin in tablet form is priced closer to $0.06 per serving (5-pack multi-buy deal). The Vitafusion gummies also contain gelatin, making them unsuitable for vegetarians.

9. NOW Foods Biotin Extra Strength 10,000 mcg

In terms of value for money, NOW Foods has one of the best biotin supplements on the market. You can often find their 120-capsule bottle for $0.09 per serving, putting it in the same ball park as Nature’s Bounty and Natrol.

If you want to cut the cost even more, Amazon regularly offer coupons and discounts, such as 20% off your first delivery. This makes up for the fact that they don’t make larger bottles, so you can’t save money buying in bulk.

NOW Foods also use veggie capsules instead of gelatin, making this one of the top biotin supplements for vegetarians and vegans.

Customers already using the product report a range of health benefits in their reviews. This includes a thickening of brittle nails, improved hair strength and growth, and healthier skin. However, as with any biotin supplement, the exact combination of benefits does tend to vary slightly by person. e.g. some will see improved nail growth but no added thickness.

10. Omegaboost Biotin 10,000 mcg

Each capsule of Omegaboost Biotin combines 5,000 mcg of biotin with 222 mg of calcium. That’s half as much biotin but more than 3 times as much calcium compared to the bestselling Natrol supplement.

Unfortunately the capsules contain gelatin, which means they’re not suitable for vegetarians. Solgar Biotin is an excellent supplement if you want to avoid gelatin, or Natrol Biotin if you’re on a tight budget.

Omegaboost is actually one of the most expensive biotin supplements on the market. At the time of writing this guide, each capsule was priced at $0.17, which is well above the $0.06 you would pay for double the dose from Natrol.

It doesn’t help that the bottle is only available in one size (120 capsules), and you can’t buy the capsules in higher 10,000 mcg doses.

Best Of The Rest

Although they didn’t quite make our top 10, we’ve identified a number of high quality biotin supplements. These are more niche products, usually tailored towards specific health conditions and combined with other ingredients.

Who Needs To Take Biotin?

It’s perfectly safe to take a biotin supplement to maintain overall health. This is one of the reasons why biotin is a popular ingredient in multivitamin supplements.

But it should also be taken if you have a biotin deficiency, where there’s a lack of biotin in the body. Symptoms of a deficiency can include:

Signs of a biotin deficiency include:

How Much Biotin Should I Take?

To answer this clearly, we really have to think of the question from two perspectives; safety, and adequate intake.

The Institute of Medicine has set an adequate intake (AI) for biotin, based on your age, gender, and life stage. For newborns up to 6 months, this can be as little as 5 mcg per day, while the recommendation for breastfeeding women is 35 mcg/day.

An adequate daily dosage of biotin varies between age ranges, but the National Academy of Sciences has published some guidelines. The goal of the report was to establish a set of reference values for nutrient intakes – including vitamin B7 – for healthy U.S. and Canadian populations.

Adequate Intake:

Limits To a Safe Dose

Biotin is widely considered a very safe supplement to take. Toxicity has not been reported in patients treated with up to 200 mg orally and up to 20 mg intravenously during the treatment of acquired biotin deficiency.

Smaller doses have been used in numerous other studies with no negative side effects. Intravenous administration of 50 mg of biotin to hemodialysis patients found no adverse effects, as did 10mg/day during the ninth month of pregnancy, and 10mg/day to a 15 year old boy with progressive bilateral optic neuropathy.

Because biotin is water-soluble, it’s actually a very safe vitamin to supplement with. Any excess in the body is simply turned to waste.

Natural food or supplements?

If you want to increase your intake of biotin, you don’t always need to turn to supplements.

Biotin-rich foods can be eaten as part of a healthy diet, including oily fish such as salmon or tuna. Almonds, nuts, and legumes are also an effective option for vegetarians.

Biotin-rich foods:

Vegetables can also be a good source of biotin, such as carrots, onions, cucumbers, and cauliflower.

The problem with relying on natural food sources for biotin is that their biotin content can vary greatly. There’s also no definitive guide to how much biotin is in each serving of the above foods.

If you’re looking for clarity around your biotin intake, there’s no better solution than a nutritional supplement.

Most biotin supplements contain between 1,000 mg and 10,000 mg of biotin. This is considerably more than the adequate intake levels listed above, but these should be considered the absolute minimum. 1,000 mcg is a good starting dose, and allows you to build up to 10,000 mcg gradually, letting your body acclimatize and allowing you to assess any side effects.

Biotin Capsules vs. Tablets

Biotin supplements now range from tablets and capsules to gummies and soft chews. So which delivery method is best?

It usually comes down to price. A bottle of chewable vitamins is a lot more expensive than tablets or capsules This is one of the reasons you’ll often see Vitafusion Biotin Gummies cost more than 3 times as much as Solgar Biotin (5,000 mcg).

Tablets are even cheaper than capsules, with two of the cheapest biotin supplements being from Incite Nutrition and Natrol (10,000 mcg).

If you’re not worried about price, it really comes down to personal preference. Biotin is absorbed equally well regardless of the delivery method. The important thing is that you don’t take it at the same time as avidin (a protein found in egg whites).

Whichever type of biotin you choose, whether it’s contained in vegetarian softgel capsules or biotin gummies, always follow directions on the label.

Health Benefits of Biotin

1. Supports a Healthy Metabolism

B-complex vitamins, such as thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), and biotin (B7) play an important role in energy metabolism. Biotin’s main function is as a CO2 carrier in the Krebs Cycle, and as a link to the process of gluconeogenesis.

Gluconeogenesis is the synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources, such as amino acids (alanine and glutamine), lactate, and pyruvate.

The Krebs Cycle, also known as the citric acid cycle (CAC) is the release of stored energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA derived from carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

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2. May Help Balance Blood Sugar

At least one study has proven biotin to be effective at improving glucose management in patients with type 2 diabetes, when combined with chromium picolinate.

Life Sciences, a weekly, peer-reviewed scientific journal, also published research with similar results.

In this study, twenty-six diabetic mice were split into 3 groups for 10 weeks of treatment. Of the twenty-six, 9 were given 2 mg of biotin/kg, 8 given 4 mg of biotin/kg, and 9 were given a control solution.

Lower post-prandial glucose levels and improved tolerance to glucose and insulin resistance were observed in the biotin groups.

A third study examined the effects of biotin on glycemic control in patients with type 1 Diabetes. The biotin was taken in addition to the patient’s standard insulin routine, at a daily dose of 40 micrograms/kg bodyweight, for a period of 3 months.

At the end of the study researchers concluded that biotin administration, as an adjuvant in addition to their insulin regimen, can improve glycemic management.

H Zhang et al. also published a study that tested the effects of a high biotin diet on subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). After 8 weeks, researchers found that the administration of a BH corrected IGT, at the same time as decreasing insulin secretion.

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3. Maintains Healthy Skin and Nails

One of the health benefits most commonly attributed to biotin supplementation is an improvement in hair growth. It’s also thought to improve the quality of skin and nails, but is there any science to back this up?

One study by the Department of Dermatology at Columbia University Presbyterian Hospital shows promise for brittle nail syndrome. Symptoms appeared to abate with a 2.5 mg dose of biotin each day.

Studies evaluating the benefits of biotin for the skin are harder to come by. In one collaborative study, dogs with fur and skin conditions were tread with 5 mg biotin/10 kg bodyweight for a period of 3 to 5 weeks.

In 60% of cases, all symptoms were reported to be cured after biotin treatment. A further 31% showed improvement, and only 9% showed no effect. These symptoms included dull coat, brittle hair, loss of hair, and scaly skin.

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4. Protects Brain Function and Fights Cognitive Decline

Although biotin itself hasn’t been used in clinical studies to prevent cognitive decline, it’s ability to boost metabolism has.

It’s this role in energy metabolism that ties biotin to combating cognitive decline. Cognitive impairments are often present alongside metabolic impairment in diseases such as Parkinson’s, Huntingtons, and Alzheimer’s.

Biotin’s influence on glucose production and regulation is what makes it interesting, as 120 g of glucose is being oxidized by the brain daily.

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5. Helps Maintain a Healthy Cardiovascular System

Although there is some evidence to say biotin helps lower cholesterol levels, this is usually in studies where it’s combined with chromium picolinate. In these cases, it’s more likely to be the chromium that lowers cholesterol, and we’re yet to find any biotin study that shows clear benefits of improving cardiovascular health.

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6. Supports Thyroid and Adrenal Function

We’re yet to find a study that tests the benefits of pure biotin on thyroid function. Most of the research that’s currently available points to the benefits of vitamin B12 and vitamin B1, with no conclusive evidence for vitamin B7 (biotin).

Some websites have also linked a biotin deficiency to adrenal fatigue, which can lead to weight gain, trouble sleeping, depression, and low blood sugar. Again, we’re yet to find a study that proves biotin has any significant benefit on adrenal fatigue. A much better solution would be to supplement with vitamins B5 and B12, Vitamin C, probiotics, and herbs such as ashwagandha, licorice, and maca.

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7. Needed to Build and Repair Tissues and Muscles

Some health and fitness sites claim biotin (vitamin B7) helps repair muscles after training. Unfortunately we’re yet to find a study that shows any evidence for this.

However, a full vitamin B complex, containing B1, B6, and B12 can speed up the recovery process during recovery from nerve injury. Vitamins B1 and B12 are the most significant for functional recovery.

A separate study, published in the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition, test the effects of B-vitamin supplementation on wound healing.

The test was performed on diabetic mice, which were given a daily treatment of vitamin B6, B12, and Folic Acid. Diabetic mice treated with the B vitamins displayed accelerated wound closure compared to the control group.

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8. Affects Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Numerous scientific studies have shown promising results for the treatment of MS with high-dose biotin.

One such study treated patients with 100 mg of biotin daily for 12 months. After 9 months of treatment, 13 patients had reversed MS-related disability, with a safety profile that was similar to the placebo.

A separate study treated patients with primary and secondary progressive MS. High doses of biotin were used (100-300 mg/day) for a period of between 2 and 36 months. Of the patients with prominent spinal cord involvement, 89% saw an improvement.

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9. Treatment and Prevention of Biotin Deficiency

Biotin deficiency isn’t always easy to identify, and even when it is, the level of biotin supplementation required isn’t well documented.

One study published in the Journal of Pediatrics recommends a minimum of 100 mcg/day, but also saw good results with larger doses of up to 10 mg/day.

Biotinidase deficiency is an inherited disorder whereby the body is unable to recycle the vitamin biotin. This can cause seizures, weak muscle tone, breathing problems, hearing and vision loss, and skin rashes in children.

A study by Barry Wolf, MD, PhD at the Department of Medical Genetics, Michigan, found that all symptomatic children with biotinidase deficiency improve when treated with 5-10 mg of oral biotin per day.

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10. Improves Hair Growth

This is one of the most common health benefits associated with biotin supplementation. But can it really help grow hair faster and improve its quality?

If you’re taking biotin specifically to treat hair loss, most studies recommend seeing a healthcare professional first. This is because hair loss can be attributed to a range of factors, and biotin supplements may only help if it’s caused by biotin deficiency.

Hair loss in women
One study, published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, assessed the ability of biotin to increase hair growth in women.

Subjects received treatment twice daily for a period of 180 days. When the study concluded, the treatment group perceived significant improvements in overall hair volume, scalp coverage, and thickness of hair body.

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Is Biotin Good for Your Hair?

High dosages of biotin have been used in scientific studies before, with promising results. A 300-milligram (300,000 mcg) daily dose was administered to 154 patients with primary or secondary Multiple Sclerosis (MS). After 9 months, 91 percent of patients taking the high dose of biotin saw some clinical improvement in their condition.

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Side Effects of Biotin

Biotin is widely regarded as a very safe supplement. The best proof of this can be found in multiple sclerosis studies, where patients can be treated with high doses of biotin, up to 100-300 mg/day (equivalent to 10-30 of the Natrol 10,000 mcg biotin tablets).

If you’re breastfeeding or pregnant, the recommendation is to let your doctor know before including biotin in your supplement routine. A very small number of people have reported mild side effects, such as nausea and digestive issues, but these were resolved when the biotin was taken with food.

How to Choose a Good Biotin Supplement

We updated our supplement guides on a regular basis, but if you find a high strength biotin supplement that isn’t featured, there are 3 key questions to answer before you buy.

1. What’s the Cost Per Serving?

Most of the top biotin supplements only contain one ingredient, making it quick and easy to compare prices. You don’t want to pay over the odds, so do a simple calculation of: price divided by (serving size * servings per day). This will calculate how much you’re paying per day.

This is fine if the supplements you’re comparing contain the same dose per serving, but what if you compare one 5,000 mcg supplement, and one 10,000 mcg product? Take the figure you just calculate and divide by the dose per serving. This gives you the average cost per 1,000 mcg of biotin.

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2. Are There Any Customer Reviews?

Customer feedback is a great indicator for whether a product really works. Many of our top 10 biotin supplements have thousands of reviews on Amazon, reporting back on the health benefits and how long they’ve been using the product.

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3. What Are the Ingredients?

The main ingredient will usually be biotin, but if you’re vegetarian, vegan, have a gluten intolerance, or simply want to avoid soy, you’ll want to take a closer look at the label.

Tablets are the safest option as you don’t have to worry about how the capsule was created. In some cases biotin capsules are suitable for vegetarians, but many use gelatin instead of vegetable cellulose.

We’re always looking for natural ingredients, with a non-GMO formula that’s produced in GMP certified facilities, free from gelatin, soy, and gluten where possible.

It’s also considering things like brand reputation. If you’re buying a supplement from a company with no website or contact information, it’s unlikely to be a good idea.

We would only recommend buying supplements from companies with a proven track record for high quality and good customer service. The only time this is difficult is when it’s a new company, but you might be able to research the background of the founders. This is to see if they’re part of a larger parent company, with a well-established reputation (Six Star Pro is made by the same people that make MuscleTech, for example).

Best Value Biotin Supplement

If you’re looking for a combination of quality and value, Natrol 10,000 mcg is the best biotin supplement on the market. The high dose, low price, single-tablet serving, and fact that it’s suitable for vegetarians have made it a number 1 bestseller.