From the Guidelines
Biotin supplementation does improve nail health, specifically in the treatment of brittle nails.
Key Findings
- Biotin is an important coenzyme for carboxylation reactions and its deficiency can lead to hair loss and nail problems 1.
- Supplementation with biotin has been successful in treating brittle nails (onychoschisis) 1.
- The study used a dose of 20 mg biotin/day in combination with other treatments, but the singular efficacy of biotin supplementation cannot be concluded from this study 1.
- More research is needed to fully understand the effects of biotin supplementation on nail health, particularly in the context of alopecia areata 1.
- However, based on the available evidence, biotin supplementation appears to be a potentially beneficial treatment for improving nail health, particularly for individuals with brittle nails.
From the Research
Biotin Supplementation and Nail Health
- Biotin supplementation has been shown to improve nail health in individuals with brittle nail syndrome, with studies suggesting that a daily dose of 2.5mg of biotin can help alleviate symptoms 2.
- Research has also demonstrated that biotin supplementation can improve the firmness, hardness, and thickness of brittle nails 3.
- In cases of acquired and inherited causes of biotin deficiency, as well as pathologies such as brittle nail syndrome, biotin supplementation may be beneficial 4.
- However, it is noted that there is limited research to support the use of biotin supplementation in healthy individuals, and further studies are needed to determine its efficacy and optimal dosing 4, 3.
Nail Conditions and Biotin Supplementation
- Biotin supplementation has been used to treat various nail conditions, including triangular worn down nails, trachyonychia, and habit tic nail deformity, with promising results 3.
- Oral biotin has been reported to be useful in the treatment of idiopathic brittle nail syndrome, along with other nutrients such as trace elements and amino acids 5.
- The use of biotin supplementation in combination with other treatments, such as topical moisturizers and lacquers, may also be beneficial in managing brittle nails 5.
Nutritional Deficiencies and Nail Health
- Virtually every nutritional deficiency can affect nail growth, and biotin is one of the nutrients that plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy nails 6.
- The chemical profile of the normal nail plate is complex, and biotin is involved in the metabolism of keratin, a key component of the nail plate 6.