Common Causes Of A Biotin Deficiency

Intravenous Feeding

Intravenous feeding can lead to biotin deficiency because the patient is not getting the necessary nutrients and foods that naturally contain the vitamin. This kind of feeding is used when the patient's digestive tract cannot properly absorb nutrients, or they are not capable of eating solid foods on their own. Then, the nutrition is given to them through their veins. To eliminate this side effect of intravenous feeding, vitamin supplements including biotin should be given to the patient until they can eat solid food again.

Without a supplement, patients might present with some, probably more than one, of the symptoms associated with a biotin deficiency. When that happens, it could compromise their health and lead to complications. Therefore, the vitamin levels need to be checked routinely and adjustments made based on the results of such blood tests.