Nails vitamin deficiency

Nails are windows to a person’s physical health.



A wealth of information can be revealed about an individual’s health just by looking at the color and shape of the fingernails or toe nails. A combination of vitamins and nails serve the purpose of revealing health information.

Nails are outer layer of the skin. They are made of a protein called keratin and serve as a protective covering for fingertips and toes.



Like skin, nails also require adequate amount of nutrition to ensure healthy and strong nails. If an individual experiences a major change in the color and shape of his or her nails, vitamin deficiency is the only reason.

Nails vitamin deficiency often leads to brittle nail syndrome that show signs of soft, dry, weak and easily breakable nails.



Biotin is known to effectively treat this syndrome. Apart from biotin; vitamin C, vitamin A, alpha-tocopherol, retinoids, silicon, zinc, retinol, retinal, iron, copper, and selenium are considered to be the key nutrients for healthy nails. Lack of any of these essential nutrients may cause fingernail vitamin deficiency.

Deficiency of Vitamin A can severely affect nail health because this vitamin helps the body process protein.



Protein is an important constituent present in the nails. Low intake may create problem in processing proteins, resulting in hangnails and brittle nails. Retinoid is a derivative of Vitamin A whose deficiency can cause nail fragility, softening and nail shedding.

Vitamin B is an essential vitamin that is required for strengthening of nails.



Low intake of this vitamin can cause brittle and fragile nails. Deficiency of Vitamin C can cause hangnails.

Calcium is required for healthy and strong nails. Low intake of calcium or Vitamin D will lead to brittle and dry nails.



Deficiency of Vitamin D tends to decrease the absorption of calcium in the body and eventually affects nail health.

Fingernails vitamin deficiency causing dry and brittle nails may further lead to various health disorder including infectious diseases, thyroid, impaired kidney function and hindered blood circulation.

To fight the problem of weak and splitting nails, try to incorporate lots of fruits and raw vegetables in your diet. Consume enriched food sources like broccoli, fish, onions, milk, dairy products and whole grains. Good water intake can also help improve nail disorders.