Brittle Nails is a Sign of Iron Deficiency Anemia
If you have brittle nails, you may be suffering
from the most common form of anemia: iron deficiency. According to the
U.S. National Library of Medicine, 20 percent of all women, 50 percent
of pregnant women and 3 percent of men lack the right amount of iron.
Your treatment program depends upon the cause of your iron shortage.
Iron & Your Nails
Your fingernails and toenails, consisting of
hardened layers of protein called keratin, serve to protect the soft
tissue of your fingers and toes. The Mayo Clinic says that when you
suffer from anemia caused by iron deficiency, your body can't produce
enough hemoglobin--the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen
throughout your system. This lack of oxygen prohibits the healthy growth
of your nails.
I have iron deficiency anemia and on some of my nails I have red lunulas. This also indicates anemia. The cause of the anemia is Celiac disease with malabsorption of nutrients due to small-intestine damage. I am an M.D. and have researched carefully about Celiac disease.
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