Prevalence of Biotin Overconsumption for Beauty Purposes Influenced by Social Media: A Cross-Sectional Study
Biotin Overconsumption for Beauty Purposes Influenced by Social Media
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54393/pbmj.v9i7.1391Keywords:
Biotin, Vitamin B7, Social Media, Nutricosmetics, Dietary SupplementsAbstract
Biotin is also commonly consumed in large quantities for cosmetic purposes, although the recommended daily value is just 30 micrograms. Laboratory immunoassays can be interfered with by these high-dose biotin supplements, which may lead to erroneous diagnosis. Social media has been an important place for health information, especially for women under 30. Objectives: To assess the level of biotin excess for beauty in young adult females in Pakistan. And to study its relationship with exposure to social media marketing of nutraceuticals. Methods: The study was conducted in Pakistan with 210 healthy female adults (18-30 years) using a community-based, cross-sectional analytical study in January-March 2026. Data were collected using an online questionnaire sent through social media. Results: People got recommendations from social media influencers (60.0%) before doctors (16.2%). Before using this supplement, most of the participants did not seek doctors' advice. The main reasons for this use were aesthetic benefits, particularly hair growth (35.7%). Biotin consumption was not associated with the source of recommendation (p=0.638). Conclusions: Biotin is an important supplement that plays an important role in the health of young females in Pakistan, and social media has a significant impact on this. The low rate of professional consultation points to a need for better digital health literacy and public health education to encourage safe supplement practices.
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