HSA | FSA CARDS ARE NOW ACCEPTED

Last reviewed: May 12, 2026 Last updated: May 12, 2026

Written by: Jay Hastings , CEO of PlexusDx

Jay Hastings is the CEO of PlexusDx, a precision health company focused on genetic testing, blood biomarker insights, and personalized wellness recommendations. He has more than 20 years of experience across healthcare innovation, genomics, laboratory operations, healthcare investing, and strategic finance. His work has included scaling healthcare startups, leading CLIA lab integrations, and helping expand consumer access to precision health tools.

Medically reviewed by: Jayden Lee, PharmD, EMBA

Jayden Lee, PharmD, EMBA, is the PlexusDx Medical Science Liaison with a PharmD and MBA specializing in pharmacogenomics and clinical product development, with a proven ability to bridge the gap between genomic research and practical patient outcomes. Dr. Lee has more than 10 years of professional experience in clinical pharmacy, academia, and research.

Biotin and BTD Gene: Understanding How Your Genes Affect Biotin Recycling

Biotin, also called vitamin B7, is a water soluble vitamin that plays a key role in turning food into energy and supporting healthy hair, skin, and nails. The BTD gene makes biotinidase, the enzyme that recycles biotin so your body can reuse it for important tasks like energy production, fatty acid synthesis, and blood sugar regulation. Variants in BTD can change how well that recycling works and may influence when you are more likely to need extra biotin from food or supplements.

Why Biotin Recycling Matters

Biotin travels in the body bound to proteins. Biotinidase frees biotin from these proteins so the vitamin can be reused. If biotinidase activity is lower, your body may not recycle biotin efficiently. That can increase the chance of a functional biotin deficiency, especially during times of higher need such as rapid growth, pregnancy, intensive training, illness, or when diet is limited.

Food First: Dietary Recommendations

  • Include biotin rich whole foods regularly: fully cooked eggs, dairy or fortified plant alternatives, legumes, nuts and seeds, and whole grains.
  • Maintain a fiber rich diet to support gut health. A diverse microbiome can contribute to biotin production.
  • Cook eggs thoroughly. Raw egg whites contain avidin which can bind biotin and reduce its absorption.
  • Choose whole grain and minimally processed foods to preserve nutrient density.

Supplement and Lifestyle Considerations

  • Discuss supplementation with your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of deficiency, eat a restricted diet, are pregnant, or have higher needs. Low to moderate supplemental biotin may be helpful when dietary intake is uncertain.
  • A multivitamin that contains biotin can be an option for general support, but it should not replace nutrient dense foods.
  • Avoid excessive raw egg consumption and limit long term use of anticonvulsant drugs or antibiotics without medical oversight, as these can affect biotin status.
  • Support overall metabolic health with regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and stress management, which help nutrient utilization.

When to Consider Testing and Medical Follow Up

  • If you have symptoms such as unexplained hair thinning, brittle nails, skin rash, fatigue, or neurological changes, share these with your healthcare provider.
  • Blood tests can measure biotinidase activity or plasma biotin in specific clinical contexts. Genetic results are one piece of information and do not replace diagnostic testing.
  • If you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, nursing, or have a chronic illness, review your nutrition and genetic findings with a clinician.

Genetic Interpretation: rs13078881 (BTD)

PlexusDx provides educational information about genetic predispositions. This section explains how different genotypes at rs13078881 may relate to biotin recycling. These interpretations describe tendencies, not diagnoses. PlexusDx does not provide medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before changing diet, starting supplements, or altering medical care.

2 effect alleles (CC)

If you have the CC genotype you carry two copies of the effect allele. This is associated with reduced biotinidase enzyme activity which can lower your efficiency at recycling biotin from food and internal sources. Biotinidase helps free biotin so it can be reused for metabolic processes such as energy production, fatty acid synthesis, and blood sugar regulation. With diminished enzyme activity your risk of functional biotin deficiency may be higher, particularly during periods of increased demand like rapid growth, pregnancy, intense training, or illness, or when dietary intake is low.

Practical steps

  • Prioritize biotin rich foods every day: fully cooked eggs, dairy or fortified alternatives, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.
  • Maintain a fiber rich and diverse diet to support gut microbes that help produce biotin.
  • Consider discussing a low to moderate biotin supplement or a prenatal/multivitamin with your healthcare provider if needs are elevated or if dietary intake is limited.
  • If you notice symptoms such as hair thinning, brittle nails, fatigue, or skin issues discuss testing for biotin status or biotinidase activity with your clinician.
1 effect allele (CG)

If you have the CG genotype you carry one copy of the effect allele. This is associated with likely reduced biotinidase enzyme activity and may somewhat lower the efficiency of biotin recycling. Biotinidase frees biotin from proteins so it can be reused in energy production, fatty acid synthesis, and blood sugar regulation. Your risk of functional biotin deficiency may be increased during times of higher demand such as rapid growth, pregnancy, intense training, or illness, or when dietary intake is low.

Practical steps

  • Regularly include biotin rich foods: fully cooked eggs, dairy or fortified alternatives, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.
  • Support gut health with a fiber rich, varied diet to nurture microbiota that can contribute to biotin production.
  • If you suspect elevated needs or inconsistent intake, discuss low to moderate biotin supplementation with your healthcare provider as an adjunct to a nutrient dense diet.
  • Monitor for signs of deficiency and work with a clinician to decide if testing is warranted.
0 effect alleles (GG)

If you have the GG genotype you carry two copies of the non effect allele. This genotype is associated with typical biotinidase enzyme activity which supports efficient biotin recycling. With normal BTD function you can usually maintain healthy biotin status through a balanced diet that includes biotin rich foods and fiber to support gut health.

Practical steps

  • Keep a nutrient dense diet with fully cooked eggs, dairy or fortified alternatives, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.
  • Maintain a fiber rich, varied diet and healthy lifestyle habits such as regular exercise and good sleep to support overall nutrient metabolism.
  • Supplementation is generally not required for most people with typical BTD activity, but consider a multivitamin or targeted supplement if specific life stages or health issues increase demand.

Practical Tips for Everyday Biotin Support

  • Eat a mix of animal and plant based biotin sources to increase dietary variety and bioavailability.
  • Avoid excessive consumption of raw egg whites. Cooking neutralizes avidin which binds biotin.
  • Keep antibiotic use and medication changes under your clinician's guidance as they can influence gut microbiota and nutrient absorption.
  • Track symptoms and share genetic results with your healthcare provider to tailor testing and interventions appropriately.

PlexusDx educational content does not provide medical advice. Genetic information is a tool to help you and your clinician personalize care. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting new supplements, changing medications, or making significant changes to your diet or health plan.

If this genetic variant is present in your PlexusDx results, the following tests and reports are commonly used to explore it further:

🧬 Genetic Tests:

🧪 Blood Tests:

📄 Genetic Report:

Frequently Asked Questions About Biotin and BTD rs13078881

How do BTD gene variants affect biotin recycling?

The BTD gene helps produce biotinidase, an enzyme that frees biotin so your body can reuse it. Variants in BTD can reduce biotinidase activity, which may lower how efficiently you recycle biotin from food and internal sources and increase the chance of functional biotin deficiency—especially during higher-need periods like pregnancy, rapid growth, intense training, illness, or limited dietary intake.

What biotin support is recommended for rs13078881 effect allele genotypes?

For rs13078881, CC (2 effect alleles) and CG (1 effect allele) genotypes are associated with reduced biotinidase activity and may increase your risk of deficiency when needs are elevated or intake is limited. Practical steps focus on eating biotin-rich foods regularly (fully cooked eggs, dairy or fortified alternatives, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains), maintaining a fiber-rich and diverse diet to support gut health, and discussing low to moderate biotin supplementation with a healthcare provider when intake or needs are uncertain.

When should I test biotin status or biotinidase activity?

Consider medical follow-up if you have symptoms such as unexplained hair thinning, brittle nails, skin rash, fatigue, or neurological changes. In specific clinical contexts, blood tests can measure biotinidase activity or plasma biotin. Genetic results are informational and don’t replace diagnostic testing, so review findings with a clinician—especially if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, nursing, or have a chronic illness.

What tests can help me learn more about Biotin and BTD rs13078881?

The Optimal Diet and Weight Loss Genetic Test delivers over 295 genetic insights related to nutrition response, body composition, metabolism, and fitness. The Diet and Nutrition Genetic Report translates your results into personalized, actionable guidance. Your healthcare provider can also recommend targeted blood tests based on your specific pathway results and health history to complement your genetic insights with current biomarker data.

Medical and Editorial Standards

Medical review process: This article was reviewed for medical accuracy, scientific clarity, evidence alignment, and appropriate discussion of genetics, medications, supplements, biomarkers, and health-related claims.

Sources and evidence: PlexusDx educational content is developed using peer-reviewed research, clinical literature, reputable medical references, and, where applicable, public health or regulatory guidance. References are included at the end of the article when scientific, medical, or health-related claims are discussed.

Commercial transparency: PlexusDx offers genetic testing, blood biomarker testing, personalized supplement recommendations, and related precision wellness services. Product mentions are intended to help readers understand available options and should not be interpreted as medical advice.

Important disclaimer: PlexusDx educational content is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about medications, supplements, genetic testing, lab testing, or health-related care.