Only little is known regarding the amount of dietary biotin required to promote optimal health or prevent chronic disease.

 

As vitamin B7 (biotin) requirement cannot be accurately estimated, the European Scientific Committee for Food has defined a biotin reference value for adults of 15–100 micrograms (mcg) per day (25). While for infants the amount provided by breastmilk is considered to be adequate, for children the usual dietary intake is the basis.

 

As the U.S. Food and Nutrition Board felt the existing scientific evidence was insufficient to calculate a RDA for vitamin B7, they set an adequate intake level (AI) in 1998, which should meet the dietary requirement (1): 

 

Life Stage	Age	Males: (mcg/day)	Females: (mcg/day)
Infants	0–6 months	5	5
Infants	7–12 months	6	6
Children	1–3 years	8	8
Children	4–8 years	12	12
Children	9–13 years	20	20
Adolescents	14–18 years	25	25
Adults	19 years and older	30	30
Pregnancy	all ages	-	30
Breast-feeding	all ages	-	35

For a detailed overview of recommended daily intakes (PRIs/RDAs) of vitamins and minerals for adults derived from different countries and organizations see PDF.