Brittle Nails

Nails consist of layers of a protective fibrous protein called keratin that’s also found in skin and hair.

Keratin makes the nails strong, but external trauma or an underlying health condition can cause thin layers of the nail to peel away.

If you have a vitamin or mineral deficiency, it can show up as dry, cracked, brittle, and irregularly shaped nails.

Iron deficiency is often the cause of peeling nails. If you suspect your peeling nails are the result of an iron deficiency, you may want to consider increasing your daily iron intake.

Biotin (also known as vitamin H and vitamin B-7) is one of the B vitamins. It can help strengthen hair and nails and also helps the body’s nervous system to function properly. 

Taking collagen may increase the strength of your nails by preventing brittleness. Additionally, it may stimulate your hair and nails to grow longer.

A study in 2017 on the effects of collagen supplements on the nails showed a 12% improvement in the rate of nail growth and a 42% reduction in the frequency of broken nails.

People with severe calcium deficiencies may develop symptoms that affect the nails first. For example, the nails can become weak, become brittle, and grow more slowly than usual.

References:

Cashman, M. W., & Sloan, S. B. (2010). Nutrition and nail disease. Clinics in dermatology, 28(4), 420-425.

Hexsel, D., Zague, V., Schunck, M., Siega, C., Camozzato, F. O., & Oesser, S. (2017). Oral supplementation with specific bioactive collagen peptides improves nail growth and reduces symptoms of brittle nails. Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 16(4), 520-526.