Does calcium deficiency cause brittle nails?

[Smachine]

Hi!

I have heard this many times, even from quit educated people, that lack of calcium causes brittle nails. I know that nails contain protein - keratin, not calcium. And even if the body lacked calcium resorption from bones would first happen? So I don't see how it can cause brittle nails, but I have heard it so many times and so many people have claimed that it helps. So is this really a myth or there is some truth in it?

 

[DaveC426913]

It would appear CNN agrees with you.

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/women/12/14/health.nails.reut/index.html

"...the belief that calcium helps nail growth is widespread, presumably because nails contain calcium, the element that keeps bones strong. However, bones have 800 times more calcium than nails.

The new results "provide no support for the idea that calcium intake alters self-reported nail quality ..."