More people report taking biotin supplements in recent years

The use of biotin supplements — which people take for hair and nail growth — has grown in recent years, according to a new study. Between 1999-2016, the proportion of biotin users increased by nearly thirtyfold, and by sevenfold for the 5-milligram-per-day dose between 2007-2016. Women, especially those who are 60 or older, were more likely to report taking the supplements than men. While the proportion of users didn't exceed 3%, the findings are concerning because the FDA in 2017 warned that taking a higher dose of the supplement could interfere with results of common tests including for checking whether heart muscle has been damaged. And because signs of a heart attack are often missed in older women, the study's findings are especially worrisome, the authors say.