Vitamin D Deficiency: Your Nails Can Tell If You Lack The Vitamin

Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that the body must have sufficient amounts of. A deficiency of the vitamin could oftentimes lead to health issues. Sometimes, the symptoms that you are feeling may already be caused by a deficiency from vitamin D without you even knowing it.

This vitamin is needed for the immune system. It also helps promote healthy bones and teeth. Since this is the sunshine vitamin, it is often difficult for individuals to derive sufficient amounts during winter months. However, you can still have your vitamin D through supplements and diet.

If you are uncertain whether you are vitamin D deficient or not, you must take note of the symptoms of the deficiency. One way is to take a look at your hands, particularly your nails.

Nail Symptoms

One of the signs of being deficient in vitamin D is the peeling of nails. Like the hair, the nails are also made of keratin.

When the body lacks vitamin D, phosphorus, and calcium levels in the body are also improperly regulated. The vitamin helps the body’s absorption of calcium. It is the one that helps the intestines to absorb calcium. If without vitamin D, instead of being absorbed, calcium will be excreted by the kidneys.

So when you lack vitamin D, you’ll start noticing that your nails are peeling. If you see that the same thing is happening to your toenails, then it’s a signal of being deficient. On the other hand, if the peeling of nails is due to external factors like trauma or overusing your nails, then it is very likely that not both the fingernails and the toenails will display the same symptoms.

More Vitamin D Benefits

Aside from proper regulation of calcium and phosphorus, as well as support the immune system, vitamin D is also essential in helping the body regulate insulin levels. It supports the management of diabetes and also helps in proper lung functioning. Good cardiovascular health is also a result of sufficient amounts of vitamin D.

If you don’t get enough of the sunshine vitamin, natural sources would include tuna, mackerel, fatty fish, and salmon. Including these foods in your diet can provide your body with the vitamin D that you need.