Nature’s Bounty Class Action Says Biotin Doesn’t Provide Advertised Benefits

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A class action lawsuit alleges that Nature’s Bounty Co. misrepresents its biotin supplements, pointing out that the human body produces all the biotin it needs.

Lead plaintiff Perla Mazzo claims in her class action lawsuit that the amount of biotin in the supplements produced by Nature’s Bounty far exceeds the amount normal people need on a daily basis.

The plaintiff says that the supplements are entirely unnecessary and do not provide their purported benefits, including improvements to hair, skin, and nails.

“The body only requires a finite amount of biotin on a daily basis for it to perform its enzymatic functions as there are a finite number of enzymes that use biotin,” states the Nature’s Bounty class action lawsuit.

The Institute of Medicine, according to the lawsuit, says that adults need only 30 micrograms (mcg) of biotin each day. “Once there is sufficient biotin in the body, saturation occurs and the body does not use this surplus biotin.”

According to the class action, Nature’s Bounty sells biotin supplements in several different varieties and also sells them under Solgar brands. The varieties include:

• Biotin 5000 mcg;
• Super Potency Biotin 5000 mcg;
• Quick Dissolve Biotin 5000 mcg;
• Biotin 10,000 mcg rapid release softgels;
• Biotin 10,000 mcg Health & Beauty rapid release liquid softgels; and
• Similar biotin products sold under the Solgar brand name.

“The taking of biotin at these levels is a waste of money and wholly pointless,” alleges the Nature’s Bounty Biotin class action lawsuit.

This is not the first class action lawsuit to hit the supplement maker. Last Spring, Nature’s Bounty was accused of falsely advertising its biotin supplements by a California woman who said she purchased their products numerous times in 2014 and 2015 before learning that most people ingest more biotin than necessary.

“Biotin is a colorless, water soluble B vitamin found in many foods, including several fruits and vegetables, liver, salmon, and cereals,” states the Nature’s Bounty class action lawsuit. “Biotin serves as a biochemical co-factor (a helper of sorts) for certain enzymatic reactions and is involved in the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and amino acids.”

The plaintiff in this class action lawsuit filed in New York federal court alleges that she and other consumers relied on Nature’s Bounty marketing that touted the supplements as having health benefits. She says that she paid up to $25 for supplements that are completely unnecessary and that can even be harmful in excessive amounts.

“Mega­doses of biotin do not support healthy hair, skin and nails, because the general population already consumers sufficient, if not additional amounts of biotin from their daily diets,” states the Nature’s Bounty class action lawsuit. Further, excessive amounts of biotin have been linked with health problems, including allergic reactions, breathing problems, and skin rashes.

Mazzo seeks to represent a nationwide Class those who purchased Nature’s Bounty biotin supplements along with a Florida Class. The Nature’s Bounty biotin class action claims the alleged false advertising violates Florida laws and also constitutes fraud, negligence, and unjust enrichment.

The plaintiff is seeking damages as well as an injunction stopping Nature’s Bounty from misrepresenting the supplement.

Mazzo is represented by Roy E. Jacobs of Roy Jacobs & Associates and Laurence D. Paskowitz of Paskowitz Law Firm PC.

The Nature’s Bounty Biotin Class Action Lawsuit is Perla Mazzo v. The Nature’s Bounty Co., Case No. 2:18-­cv­01255, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.