Are patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) deficient in Biotin and is regular Biotin supplementation required?

In 23 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), 23 patients on chronic int ermittent hemodialysis treatment (DP), 22 patients after renal transplantat ion (RT) and 40 normal persons (NP), Biotin plasma levels and the urinary e xcretion were analysed and compared to the dietary Biotin intake. Unsupplem ented DP had lower intake of Biotin than the CRF, RT, NP and DP with supple mentation. DP excreted only 1.6-6.3 % of the daily intake as compared to 39 .7 % in NP, 27.6 % in CRF and 24.3 % in RT. In unsupplemented DP patients, Biotin plasma levels were elevated by 4 time s and in supplemented patients by 6 times compared to NP. During hemodialys is treatment, the Biotin plasma level dropped by about 30 % in DP with and by 33 % in DP without vitamine supplementation. However, after 44 hours, th e initial concentration was reached again in those receiving vitamine suppl ementation (99 % of basal level) and in DP without substitution (97 % of ba sal level). Only in male DP significantly higher Biotin plasma levels before HD were de tected irrespective of the supplementation dose as compared to female patie nts (30 mu g and 300 mu g Biotin after each dialysis session). Biotin plasma concentration did not vary with respect to the underlying ren al disease, the serum creatinine concentration and the length and frequency of dialysis treatment, including the type of dialyzer (low- vs high flux) used and the blood flow rate (QB 180-260 vs 270-280 vs 300 mi/min). There were no major effects of the age of the patients (< 60 years vs > 60 years), the BMI, nicotine abuse, or alcohol intake on Biotin blood concentr ation. Our results showed normal Biotin plasma levels which reflect a normal funct ional status and exclude a functional deficit, therefore there is no reason for a regular Biotin supplementation in patients with chronic renal failur e.