What supplements support healthy nail growth?

Supplements for Healthy Nails

Biotin supplementation at 2.5 mg daily is the only supplement with consistent evidence for improving nail health in otherwise healthy individuals, specifically for treating brittle nail syndrome. 1, 2, 3

Primary Recommendation: Biotin

Biotin (vitamin B7) at 2.5 mg daily should be taken for a minimum of 5-6 months to see clinical improvement in nail strength and brittleness. 1, 4

• In a clinical study of 45 patients with brittle nails, 91% showed definite improvement with firmer, harder fingernails after an average treatment duration of 5.5 months with 2.5 mg daily biotin 4
• Biotin supplementation has been specifically successful in treating onychoschisis (nail splitting and flaking) 1, 3
• The mechanism involves biotin's role as an essential coenzyme for carboxylation reactions critical to keratin formation 1

Alternative Supplement: Silicon

Choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid at 10 mg daily represents a second-line option for brittle nail syndrome. 2, 5

• Silicon supplementation has demonstrated efficacy in improving nail brittleness, though the evidence base is less robust than for biotin 2
• This form of silicon is specifically recommended due to its bioavailability 2

Supplements WITHOUT Evidence for Healthy Nails

The following supplements should NOT be recommended for improving nail health in well-nourished individuals, as no evidence supports their efficacy: 2

• Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
• Vitamin A, retinoids, retinol, or retinal
• Zinc
• Iron
• Copper
• Selenium
• Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)
• Folate

Critical Caveats

These recommendations apply only to otherwise healthy, well-nourished individuals with idiopathic brittle nail syndrome. 2, 3

• If nail brittleness is secondary to inflammatory disorders, infections, systemic diseases, or true nutritional deficiencies, the underlying condition must be treated first 3
• In patients with documented deficiencies (confirmed by laboratory testing), targeted supplementation of the deficient nutrient is appropriate 3, 6
• Proper nail care practices—including regular moisturizer application to periungual tissues, avoiding trauma, and protecting nails from excessive water exposure—should accompany any supplementation 1

Timeline and Monitoring

Patients should be counseled that nail improvement requires 5-6 months of consistent supplementation, as complete nail plate replacement takes 6-9 months. 4, 6

• Reassess clinical response after 6 months of biotin supplementation 4
• If no improvement occurs after 6 months, consider alternative diagnoses such as fungal infection, psoriasis, or other inflammatory nail disorders 3