Weak, Brittle Nails: Could Iron Deficiency Be The Culprit?

Iron is a crucial element in the production of haemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen to all parts of the body. When the body is deficient in iron, it becomes harder to transport oxygen to the cells that stimulate the growth of your nails and hair. This can lead to Brittle or spoon-shaped fingernails, a relatively uncommon symptom of iron deficiency.

Brittle nails

Iron plays a vital role in producing haemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen to all parts of the body. When the body is deficient in iron, it becomes harder to transport oxygen to the cells that stimulate the growth of your nails and hair. This causes your hair to become thin and fall out.

The content of S, Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn in the finger-nails of 17 women with iron deficiency was examined by X-ray microanalysis and compared with that of 17 healthy women. The values for all these elements were similar in both groups. The distribution curve for iron was also similar in both patients and controls. There was no correlation between the iron content of the finger-nails and the serum iron or haemoglobin levels. It is suggested that the iron content of the finger-nails in iron-deficient patients does not reflect their iron status.

Iron deficiency also affects your appearance. Dr Bangia explains the important signs of iron deficiency in skin, hair and nails. It is normal to lose some strands of hair in a day, however, if you notice excess hair in your brush or on your pillow it could be a sign that something is not right. Dry and damaged hair could be a sign of iron deficiency. When your body is deficient in iron, it lowers the level of haemoglobin in your blood causing the hair cells to receive less oxygen affecting hair growth. When skin and hair fail to receive adequate amounts of oxygen, they become dry and weak.

Deficiency of iron causes several symptoms including weakness, a faster-than-normal heartbeat, pain in your tongue among others. Some signs are also visible in your skin, hair and nails.

Spoon-shaped nails

Brittle or spoon-shaped fingernails called koilonychia is a relatively less common symptom of iron deficiency. Usually, it begins as brittle nails that crack and chip easily. In later stages, when iron deficiency continues untreated for long, it may lead to spoon-shaped nails – meaning they form a curve with a dip in the middle and edges raise to give it a rounded spoon-shaped appearance. However, it is a rare symptom and is seen only in severe cases of iron deficiency.

Iron plays a vital role in producing haemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen to all parts of the body. When the body is deficient in iron, it becomes harder to transport oxygen to the cells that stimulate the growth of your nails and hair. This causes your hair to become thin and fall out.

Iron deficiency also affects your appearance. Dr Bangia explains the important signs of iron deficiency in skin, hair and nails. It is normal to lose some strands of hair in a day, however, if you notice excess hair in your brush or on your pillow it could be a sign that something is not right. Dry and damaged hair could be a sign of iron deficiency. When your body is deficient in iron, it lowers the level of haemoglobin in your blood causing the hair cells to receive less oxygen affecting hair growth. When skin and hair fail to receive adequate amounts of oxygen, they become dry and weak.

The content of S, Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn in the finger-nails of 17 women with iron deficiency was examined by X-ray microanalysis and compared with that of 17 healthy women. The values for all these elements were similar in both groups. The distribution curve for iron was also similar in both patients and controls. There was no correlation between the iron content of the finger-nails and the serum iron or haemoglobin levels. It is suggested that the iron content of the finger-nails in iron-deficient patients does not reflect their iron status.

Deficiency of iron causes several symptoms including weakness, a faster-than-normal heartbeat, pain in your tongue among others. Some signs are also visible in your skin, hair and nails.

Iron deficiency

It is normal to lose some strands of hair in a day, however, if you notice excess hair in your brush or on your pillow it could be a sign that something is not right. Dry and damaged hair could be a sign of iron deficiency. When your body is deficient in iron, it lowers the level of haemoglobin in your blood causing the hair cells to receive less oxygen affecting hair growth. When skin and hair fail to receive adequate amounts of oxygen, they become dry and weak.

The content of S, Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn in the finger-nails of 17 women with iron deficiency was examined by X-ray microanalysis and compared with that of 17 healthy women. The values for all these elements were similar in both groups. The distribution curve for iron was also similar in both patients and controls. There was no correlation between the iron content of the finger-nails and the serum iron or haemoglobin levels. It is suggested that the iron content of the finger-nails in iron-deficient patients does not reflect their iron status.

Oxygen transport

Iron plays a vital role in producing haemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen to all parts of the body. When the body is deficient in iron, it becomes harder to transport oxygen to the cells that stimulate the growth of your nails and hair. This causes hair to become thin and fall out.

Iron deficiency also affects your appearance. Dr Bangia explains that when your body is deficient in iron, it lowers the level of haemoglobin in your blood causing the hair cells to receive less oxygen affecting hair growth. When skin and hair fail to receive an adequate amount of oxygen, they become dry and weak.

Brittle or spoon-shaped fingernails called koilonychia is a relatively less common symptom of iron deficiency. Usually, it begins as brittle nails that crack and chip easily. In later stages, when iron deficiency continues untreated for long, it may lead to spoon-shaped nails – meaning they form a curve with a dip in the middle and edges raise to give it a rounded spoon-shaped appearance. However, it is a rare symptom and is seen only in severe cases of iron deficiency.

The content of S, Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn in the finger-nails of 17 women with iron deficiency was examined by X-ray microanalysis and compared with that of 17 healthy women. The values for all these elements were similar in both groups. The distribution curve for iron was also similar in both patients and controls. There was no correlation between the iron content of the finger-nails and the serum iron or haemoglobin levels. It is suggested that the iron content of the finger-nails in iron-deficient patients does not reflect their iron status.

Iron deficiency also causes weakness, a faster-than-normal heartbeat, pain in your tongue among others. Some signs are also visible in your skin, hair and nails.

Haemoglobin

Brittle or spoon-shaped fingernails called koilonychia is a relatively less common symptom of iron deficiency. Usually, it begins as brittle nails that crack and chip easily. In later stages, when iron deficiency continues untreated for long, it may lead to spoon-shaped nails – meaning they form a curve with a dip in the middle and edges raise to give it a rounded spoon-shaped appearance. However, it is a rare symptom and is seen only in severe cases of iron deficiency.

Iron deficiency also affects your appearance. Dr Bangia explains the important signs of iron deficiency in skin, hair and nails. It is normal to lose some strands of hair in a day, however, if you notice excess hair in your brush or on your pillow it could be a sign that something is not right. Dry and damaged hair could be a sign of iron deficiency. When your body is deficient in iron, it lowers the level of haemoglobin in your blood causing the hair cells to receive less oxygen affecting hair growth. When skin and hair fail to receive adequate amounts of oxygen, they become dry and weak.

Deficiency of iron causes several symptoms including weakness, a faster-than-normal heartbeat, pain in your tongue among others. Some signs are also visible in your skin, hair and nails.

The content of S, Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn in the finger-nails of 17 women with iron deficiency was examined by X-ray microanalysis and compared with that of 17 healthy women. The values for all these elements were similar in both groups. The distribution curve for iron was also similar in both patients and controls. There was no correlation between the iron content of the finger-nails and the serum iron or haemoglobin levels. It is suggested that the iron content of the finger-nails in iron-deficient patients does not reflect their iron status.

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