Text/Reporter Lai Wenru
A woman in her 50s found that her nails were getting shorter and shorter more than a year ago. It was suspected that the nails had been injured. After examination, she found out that she was lacking in vitamin D. She followed the doctor’s advice to supplement nutrition, and the nail condition improved following 3 months. The doctor said that the main source of vitamin D is sunlight, and a small part is taken from food. However, the intake of vitamins is not the more the better, and too much supplementation may also cause other harm to the body.
He Yicheng, Chief Physician of the Family Medicine Department of Shutian Clinic, pointed out that some diseases can cause nail abnormalities, such as iron-deficiency anemia that makes the nails sink like a spoon, abnormal thyroid function that makes the nails fragile and separate from the nail bed, psoriasis that causes nail spot-like depressions, and fungal infection It can make the nails yellow and thicken, and abnormal cardiopulmonary function may cause clubbing, etc.
Nutrient deficiency can also cause changes in nails, such as changes in size, streaks or spots on the nail surface, brittleness, and thinning in thickness, etc., all of which may be caused by lack of different nutrients.
He Yicheng said that this female case in her 50s noticed that her fingernails were getting shorter and shorter a year ago. She suspected that the nails had been injured. Physical examination found that the patient’s nails were weak and normal in color, and the part connecting the nails to the nail bed became shorter. The fourth finger is more obvious, and the skin is normal without erythema.
Blood tests showed that the case had normal thyroid function, no anemia, no iron deficiency, and low 25-hydroxyvitamin D, which was 8 ng/mL (normal value 30-100).
He Yicheng pointed out that vitamin D exists in the body mainly in the form of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and blood tests can assess whether the body content is sufficient. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that can help regulate calcium and phosphorus balance, help the gastrointestinal tract absorb calcium, make nails healthy and bones strong, and reduce osteoporosis. It may also be related to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and immune function.
The main source of vitamin D is sunlight, and a small part is taken from food. He Yicheng further stated that when exposed to the sun, the human body can synthesize vitamin D by itself, but attention should be paid to sun protection. Dietary adjustment is also one of the ways to obtain vitamin D, such as fish, egg yolk, milk, black fungus, mushrooms, etc., are all foods with high content; when vitamin D is seriously lacking, you can take nutritional supplements under the advice of a doctor Replenish.
He Yicheng reminded that the health of nails not only affects the appearance and hand function, but may also indicate the status of physical diseases and nutrients. If there is any abnormality, you should seek medical examination and treatment. The more vitamins, the better. Supplementing too much may cause other harm to the body. It is best to be diagnosed by a doctor and taken according to the doctor’s advice in order to be beneficial to the body. ◇
