Vitamins and minerals: their role in nail health and disease
Scheinfeld N, Dahdah MJ, Scher R
Published in Journal of Drugs in Dermatology
Methodology
Review of evidence for biotin, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin A, silicon, zinc, iron, copper, selenium and B12 in nail health
Key Findings
No evidence supports vitamin E, C, A, silicon, zinc, iron, copper, selenium or B12 supplementation in well-nourished patients; brittle nail syndrome appears to abate with 2.5 mg/day biotin or 10 mg/day silicon
Conclusions
Only biotin and silicon have supportive evidence in brittle nail syndrome
Limitations
Older narrative review; underlying trials were small and mostly open-label
Supplements Studied
A 10-mg dose of silicon daily, a useful form of which is choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid.
Brittle nail syndrome appears to abate with supplementation with a 2.5-mg dose of biotin daily or a 10-mg dose of silicon daily.
Outcomes Measured
Brittle nail syndrome appears to abate with supplementation with a 2.5-mg dose of biotin daily or a 10-mg dose of silicon daily, a useful form of which is choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid.
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
Access Study
This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen.