Biotin & Collagen: Benefits & How These Supplements Work Together 

When starting a supplement routine, there is no shortage of questions to answer.

One of the more common questions we tend to get is what supplement ingredients play well together. Well, that comes down to two additional questions.

First is are they safe and stable to take together—meaning they won't have counterproductive interactions or lessen each other's impact.

The second is do they work toward a common health support goal or even synergistically to help each other be more effective and bioavailable? 

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the skin—and a protein that shows up in a lot of other places, too, like the joints, bones, and gut lining.

Because it has several roles all throughout the body, taking a collagen peptide supplement can provide several all-over benefits from your hair to your bones.*

Studies have shown that taking collagen peptides will support skin elasticity and hydration levels and promote youthful texture1.*

Collagen supplements also provide many of the amino acids and nutrients needed for hair growth: "Amino acids are the building blocks for keratin, the material that hair is made of," according to board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D.

Yes, for the body to build keratin, it needs several types of amino acids, many of which are found in collagen peptides2. In fact, the main amino acid in keratin is proline—which is readily found in many collagen supplements.*

Research shows that collagen can help support your gut health4.* As gut health specialist Vincent Pedre, M.D., told mbg, "For the same reasons collagen helps repair and grow muscle tissue, it serves as an excellent nutrient source for supporting the rapidly dividing cells that line the interior of the gut."*

Based on growing research, collagen has also been found to help support joint health and comfort6.*

A good portion of our muscles is made of protein. A clinical study demonstrated that hydrolyzed collagen supplementation supports muscle strength7 and body composition.*

Another found that supplements can support skeletal muscle mass and strength8.*

In fact, according to Nour Zibdeh, M.S., RDN, CLT, "Collagen can also support lean muscle and help improve body composition."* 

While this is an emerging area of research, the science has shown that collagen can help support bone density9.*

Biotin is an essential water-soluble B vitamin—vitamin B7, specifically. B vitamins fuel many delicate, intricate pathways in the body.

Biotin is critical for the daily utilization of fats, carbs, and amino acids (ahem, like those found in collagen supplements) for energy (ATP).*

And while biotin has earned its place in a B-complex, most people supplement with biotin with beauty in mind.* Most products with biotin are cosmeceutical in nature, and thus that's what we'll focus on here. 

Now, before we dive into the benefits of biotin, it's important to note a few things. The first is that cases of biotin insufficiency and frank deficiency are quite rare in our modern world.

The second is that the research about this supplement's benefits isn't as robust as that for collagen.

Research shows that if you have low levels of biotin, it can actually lead to hair shedding10. (Biotin deficiency is rare in the U.S. population, however.)

Biotin is thought to support healthy hair growth because it is involved in the production of keratin11, the main component of hair.*

Brittle, rigid nails are another common complaint for those with vitamin inadequacies, especially B vitamin deficiencies. (Again, biotin insufficiency in developed countries is rare.)

Let's revisit the intro. Remember how it's important to consider safety and efficacy when deciding to take two supplement nutrients or bioactives together? Well, biotin and collagen pass on both fronts. 

"Collagen and biotin are both safe, well-tolerated cosmeceutical bioactives, supporting hair, skin, and nail health,"* says Ferira. "But they have their own unique and individual mechanisms for structurally and functionally doing that, hence the reasonable potential for synergy in combining them. Both collagen- and biotin-containing foods and supplements provide key nutrients or building blocks for our body. Collagen provides macronutrient—protein—nourishment and critical amino acid building blocks. Biotin provides an essential water-soluble B vitamin (B7), which acts as a versatile cofactor in a variety of bodily functions."*

Research shows this too. While biotin hasn't been as well studied on its own, there's a decent amount of clinical research studying the two ingredients together.

For example, this study demonstrates that taking both has a positive impact on skin hydration, elasticity, smoothness, and density13.*

As far as beauty supplements go, combining biotin and collagen together is a safe bet.*