What Does it Mean When Your Nails Have Ridges?

There is a belief that soft and brittle nails are an early indicator of osteoporosis, many people ask me if there is any truth to this belief .

Although I am not aware of research that confirms the link between brittle nails and osteoporosis, one might exist. Many people who come to my office with this symptom often see improvements when they add a balanced bone mineral formula to their supplement program. This means that nails are probably a better indicator of certain vitamin or mineral deficiencies which, when left uncorrected, could ultimately lead to osteoporosis. With limited research, we cannot assume that brittle nails are an indicator of osteoporosis because it is possible to have brittle nails without necessarily having weak bones. Over time, it is possible that the very same nutritional deficiencies that cause brittle nails may also be a factor in the development of osteoporosis. This is an important distinction because when those deficiencies have been corrected and the nails improve, this does not necessarily mean that you are “out of the woods” as far as osteoporosis is concerned.

A recent study looked at the published literature to see if there was any scientific proof that nutritional deficiencies could lead to what is called “Brittle Nail Syndrome”. After evaluating the literature , the researchers had three main findings:

1. Taking proper care of your nails plays an important role in the vitality of your nails
2. There is no scientific evidence  that supplementation with vitamin A, C, E, zinc, iron, copper or vitamin B12 will correct the problem
3. Brittle Nail Syndrome can be corrected with 2.5 mg of biotin or 10 mg of silicon every day  (The silicon should be in the stable form called choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid)

(J Drugs Dermatol 2007;6:782-787)

These findings are of interest but not unforeseen. Biotin is well known for its ability to improve nail ridges and eliminate brittleness . However, most people who supplement with biotin often take a tiny dose that will not be sufficient to improve the nails . I have found that people respond to 3 mg  (3000 mcg) or more daily but may not respond to lesser amounts. I have also used the stabilized silica quite successfully. Incidentally , silicon is quite beneficial for the bones and an important component of any osteoporosis nutrition program. A side benefit of this form of silicon is a decrease in age-related fine lines of the skin by 19%.

The important message here is to never discount the importance of minor symptoms as they could be an indication of a more serious matter. If you suffer with nail ridges or brittle nails, it may indicate that conditions are right for osteoporosis. It is also important to note that when you pursue natural solutions for osteoporosis, you may also enjoy benefits to the hair, nails and skin.

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