Can You Take Biotin and Collagen Together?

Biotin and collagen are two supplements commonly used for hair, skin, nail, and bone health. Biotin, also called vitamin B7, is a B vitamin that helps turn carbohydrates, protein, and fats that you eat into energy. Collagen is a protein primarily found in skin, bones, ligaments, and tendons, helping to strengthen them.

Our bodies naturally produce both biotin and collagen, and most people obtain enough of these nutrients through diet. However, certain individuals may benefit from taking supplements for biotin, collagen, or both.

Based on your individual needs and treatment goals, your healthcare provider may recommend you take biotin and collagen supplements.

Benefits of Biotin

Biotin is an essential nutrient that plays a major in role in overall body function. Biotin helps turn the carbohydrates, protein, and fats that you eat into energy. The B vitamin also plays an important role in gene regulation and cell signaling.

Though biotin is naturally produced in your body, many foods also contain biotin. Examples include organ meats, eggs, fish, and vegetables. Biotin supplements are available for people who need to increase their body's biotin levels.

Biotin supplements can be used to treat and prevent various health conditions. Some potential benefits of biotin supplements include:

• Treating biotin deficiency: Biotin deficiency is a rare condition characterized by low levels of biotin in the body. Signs and symptoms include thinning hair, red rashes around the eyes, nose, or mouth, eye infections, and tiredness. Risk factors include malnutrition, chronic alcohol exposure, anticonvulsant (anti-seizure) medications, and pregnancy or lactation. Infants can also have symptoms, including extreme tiredness and developmental delay.
• Supporting hair, nail, and skin health: Biotin is often recommended for hair, nail, and skin health. This is especially true for people with low biotin levels. However, there are limited studies showing the benefits of biotin for hair, nail, and skin health in people without low biotin levels.
• Reducing multiple sclerosis symptoms: Limited evidence has suggested that high-dose biotin may decrease symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Biotin is thought to play a role in the creation of myelin, the protective layer surrounding nerves in the body. People with MS have injured myelin, leading to damage to the nerves underneath. More research is needed to determine biotin's role in myelin production and MS symptom treatment.

Benefits of Collagen

Collagen is the main structural protein in skin, bones, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. There are various types of collagen, but the most common are type I, type II, and type III.

• Type I: Type I is the main collagen found in skin, tendons, ligaments, and bone, and it plays a role in wound healing. This type of collagen is often recommended for skin, hair, and nail health.
• Type II: This type is mainly found in cartilage and connective tissue. Type II collagen is usually recommended to promote joint health.
• Type III: This type is mainly found in muscles, arteries, and organs (such as the uterus and bowel), and it also plays a role in wound healing.

Though the body naturally produces collagen, it is also found in many foods. Examples of collagen-rich foods include fish, chicken, beef, and egg whites. Additional collagen is not usually a requirement, but some people may desire supplementation for various reasons.

Potential benefits of collagen supplements include:

• Improving aging and dry skin: Collagen has been shown to improve skin hydration and elasticity, especially in older adults. Your body produces less collagen as you age, which can affect the appearance of your skin. Some studies have shown that collagen helps reduce wrinkles, but other research has found collagen does not significantly improve wrinkles. Collagen may also improve skin hydration in adults with dry skin.
• Promoting bone health: Collagen may help strengthen bones and prevent bone loss. One study showed that daily collagen intake increased bone mineral density and overall bone formation in postmenopausal women over 12 months.
• Supporting hair growth: Studies have shown that collagen supplements can reduce breakage and promote hair growth for longer and thicker hair.
• Supporting nail strength: Collagen has been shown to increase nail growth and improve overall nail strength.
• Promoting joint health: Several studies have found that collagen (specifically type II) may improve overall joint health. One study in people without preexisting conditions found that taking collagen daily improved knee joint flexibility and reduced joint pain experienced after exercise. People with osteoarthritis may also experience improved joint health while taking collagen.

Benefits of Taking Biotin and Collagen Together

Taking biotin and collagen together may benefit people seeking overall improvement in bodily function and cellular development. This is especially true for people interested in improved hair, skin, and nail health.

However, there is limited research on the effects of taking biotin and collagen together. If you are interested in one or both of these supplements, talk to your healthcare provider about what is right for you.

How To Take a Combination of Biotin and Collagen

Biotin and collagen can be taken together as two separate products or as a combination supplement product.

Biotin is available as a standalone product, in combination with other vitamin B complexes, or as a multivitamin product. The vitamin is also available in multiple forms, including gummy, pill or capsule, liquid, or powder.

There are various collagen supplement products available in numerous forms (gummy, pill, liquid, powder). Collagen is available as a single product (types I, II, III, etc.), or in combination with other collagen types. Collagen may also be available in combination with products used for skin, hair, nail, and bone health.

Collagen can be derived from various sources, including fish, cows, and chickens. Therefore, collagen may not be a suitable option for people with allergies to these products or who are vegan.

Dosage

Your dosage of biotin and collagen—and how long you should take both—depends on your treatment goals and needs. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate biotin and collagen dosages. The amount of biotin and collagen within a supplement will vary between products, and the recommended serving size will depend on the product's instructions.

The daily recommended value for biotin from combined food and supplement sources is 30 micrograms (mcg) for most adults (men, women, and pregnant people) and 35 mcg for people who are lactating or breastfeeding.

Biotin supplements are commonly used in doses of up to 2.5 milligrams (mg) daily for up to 15 months. The maximum dose often recommended is 300 mg daily for up to six months. Biotin doses up to 10 mg daily are used to treat and prevent biotin deficiency.

Collagen is often used in doses between 2.5 grams (g) and 10 g daily for up to six months.

Is It Safe To Take Biotin and Collagen Together?

There are few side effects or safety concerns for either biotin or collagen alone. Taking biotin and collagen together also appears to be safe. However, research on the long-term use of these supplements together is limited.

Potential Drug and Laboratory Test Interactions

There are very few known drug and laboratory test interactions with either biotin or collagen.

Examples of medications and tests that biotin may interact with include:

• Anticonvulsants: Certain medications used to treat seizures may lower biotin levels in your body. Research shows these seizure medications may increase the breakdown of biotin in the body.
• Laboratory tests: Biotin may interact with certain laboratory test results. This includes tests that measure hormone levels in the body (such as thyroid and pregnancy tests), vitamin D levels, and heart health (troponin). Taking biotin supplements may result in false normal or abnormal results, which could result in misdiagnosis of diseases.

Collagen does not have any known drug or lab test interactions.

Talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist before taking biotin and collagen to determine If these products may interact with other medications or supplements you are taking, as well as any lab tests you may require.

What To Look For

When shopping for biotin and collagen supplements, it's important to buy products that are safe and high-quality. The FDA does not regulate supplements in the same way it regulates prescription and some over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Shop for supplements tested by independent third-party organizations to ensure the ingredients listed are accurate and the supplement does not contain harmful levels of contaminants.

The claims that may be made by drug manufacturers about biotin, collagen, and other beauty supplements are not generally verified by third-party organizations or the FDA.

Popular organizations that offer quality testing include U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), NSF International, and ConsumerLab.com. You can look for their labels on the product packaging.

Can You Take Too Much Biotin or Collagen?

There are no recommended maximum dosages or limits for either biotin or collagen, as both have low toxicity risk.

Taking high doses of biotin is unlikely to cause any adverse health effects. Biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin, and if taken in excess, your body will eliminate biotin through urine. In clinical studies, biotin has been safely taken in doses of up to 300 mg daily for up to six months.

Collagen doses of up to 10 g daily for up to six months or doses of up to 40 g daily for up to four weeks have been studied and are considered safe.

Side Effects of Taking a Combination of Biotin and Collagen

There are very few known side effects from taking biotin and collagen together.

Diarrhea has been associated with high doses of biotin, though this effect is very rare.

Mild skin rashes have been reported with certain collagen products. Other rare side effects reported while taking collagen supplements include nausea, indigestion, diarrhea, and flatulence (gas).

Since most collagen supplements are made from animal products, people with known allergies to animal products (such as fish) should avoid taking collagen made with certain ingredients.

A Quick Review

Biotin and collagen play essential roles in health on a cellular level. If you’re unable to get enough biotin and collagen from your diet, your healthcare provider may recommend taking supplements of both.

Taking biotin and collagen together may be beneficial for people seeking improved hair, skin, nail, and bone health. Talk with your healthcare provider about whether biotin and collagen supplements would be right for you.