Fingernail condition is a valuable indicator of overall health in both children and adults. Children's nail color and texture can reflect a wide array of medical conditions. If your child's previously healthy fingernails undergo changes changes it can be a warning sign for other conditions. Certain nutritional deficiencies and toxicities present signs of peeling and brittle nails.
Nail Physiology
Keratin proteins make up the main composition of kids' nails. This same protein is in their hair and skin. Cells at the base of the nail migrate to the surface and become flattened and packed tightly together in layers. The layers form at the nail root and slowly elongate. As the layers elongate, the keratin hardens in a process called keratinization. If kids nail cell growth is interrupted by injury, illness or dietary insufficiencies, nail peeling may occur.
Biotin
Biotin is classified as a B-complex vitamin, sometimes known as vitamin H or vitamin B7. Kids' bodies use biotin to convert food into fuel. It is made by their gut bacteria or consumed in their diet. In a 2007 article by Noah Scheinfeld in the "Journal of Drugs and Dermatology," the authors review a multitude of evidence for biotin's use as a treatment for nail conditions. Biotin deficiency is rare but on occurrence can exhibit symptoms involving keratinized tissues.
Other Vitamins
Inadequate dietary nutrition may not supply the recommended daily allowance of vitamins to children. B vitamins folic acid and B12 have both been indicated as a requirement for healthy nails in kids. Since healthy nails continue to grow new cells, it is logical that vitamins that help with DNA synthesis, such as folic acid and B12, would be essential. Also, vitamins A and C have a role in cell growth and skin collagen synthesis, respectively. Vitamin A derivatives called retinoids have proven useful in treating conditions of nail psoriasis, a skin disease, which can affect the nail matrix and cause nail peeling.
Iron
Iron plays a role in nail health. An iron deficiency causes an abnormal fingernail shape called koilonychia. The thin nail has raised edges, while being curved inwards. Since the nail is so thin, it is predisposed to breaking and peeling. Brittle nails is a symptom of iron deficiency anemia in kids. After consultation with medical professionals, iron deficiency can be treated by an increased consumption of high-iron foods or iron supplementation.
Other Minerals
Mineral content of nails appear to be different between boys and girls and varies between populations. Nail calcium and zinc content is higher in boys than girls, while levels are reversed with magnesium. The content of sodium, calcium, iron and magnesium is higher in kids' nails than adults. Kids who eat protein-insufficient diets have low magnesium content in their nails. Nutritional deficiencies in minerals present as a variety of unhealthy nail symptoms, such as brittle peeling nails, white nails and nail indentations.
Protein
Low dietary protein is likely to cause zinc or iron deficiencies. Signs of these deficiencies can result in unhealthy, peeling nails. Low-income malnutrition or vegetarian diets can be the culprit of diets insufficient in protein content, which leads to unhealthy nails. As kids get older, their daily intake for a safe level of protein decreases from 1.86 g per kg per day in infants to only 0.86 g per kg per day in 17- to 18-year-olds. Infants require the highest levels of protein in their diets due to high growth rates.
References
- National Institutes of Health; Nail Abnormalities; Micheal Lehrer; April 2009
- Good Housekeeping; Healthy Fingernails--Clues About Your Health; Sherry Rauh
- Kids Health; Skin, Hair, and Nails; Patrice Hyde; October 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin H (Biotin)
- "Journal of Drugs in Dermatology"; Vitamins and Minerals--Their Role in Nail Health and Disease; Noah Scheinfeld, et al.; August 2007
- Nestle Family: The Right Nutrition for Healthy and Beautiful Nails
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