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Article: Biotin needed during pregnancy. (Literature Review & Commentary).(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients
- Article date:
- June 1, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Townsend Letter Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Twenty-six pregnant women (10 in early pregnancy [6-17 weeks] and 16 in late pregnancy [21-37 weeks]) with increased urinary excretion of 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid (3-HIA), a finding suggestive of biotin deficiency, were randomly assigned to receive 300 mcg/day of biotin or placebo for 14 days. In both stages of pregnancy, 3-HIA excretion decreased significantly in the women who received biotin, but increased in those who received placebo.
Comment: Approximately 50% of pregnant women have elevated urinary excretion of 3-HIA which is suggestive of biotin deficiency. However, that abnormality could conceivably result from a ...