Collagen Improves Brittle Nails

In this open-label, non-placebo trial, 25 people took 2,500 mg of bioactive collagen peptides per day for 24 weeks. Doctors measured nail health before, during, and after the study. 

After 12 weeks, nail growth had increased by 10 percent, by 12 percent after 24 weeks, and continued increasing by 15 percent four weeks after stopping collagen. Before the study, participants reported breaking nails 10 times per month, and just six times per month at 24 weeks. Nail peeling, irregular edges, and roughness declined by half at 12 weeks.

At the end of the study, 80 percent of the women were totally satisfied with collagen, and 46 percent rated overall improvement as a 9 or 10 on a scale of 1 to 10. Most participants also said they believed their nails were longer, stronger, and grew faster.

Collagen is the main protein of connective tissue in animals and the most abundant protein in mammals. It is composed of long, fibrous structural proteins. Collagen is the main component of cartilage, skin, ligaments, tendons, bone, and teeth. In other words, it is one of the building blocks composing hair, skin, nails and other connective tissue. We know that oral supplementation with other connective tissue precursors biotin, silicon, vitamin C, etc will enhance the growth and health of hair, skin and nails, as well as joint health. It should not be a surprise that collagen would do the same.

The pharmacists and nutritionists at Willner Chemists are available to help you choose the collagen supplement, or a "hair-skin-nails" supplement that best suits your specific needs.