Can Collagen Help Your Nails Grow Strong?

It's one of the most frequently-asked questions we get over email....

If I drink your bone broth (or take your Collagen Peptides), will it make my nails stronger? 

The answer....

Maybe yes, maybe no. 

We can't tell you with 100% certainty that if you have weak, brittle, broken nails that drinking bone broth or consuming a collagen supplement such as LonoLife Grass-Fed Collagen Peptides will transform your nails into a back-scratchin' love machine like it did for Erika W. of Encinitas, CA. 

You see, everybody is different. And to make a blanket statement that everybody will have stronger nails if they consume something with collagen protein every day is irresponsible, not to mention potentially illegal. 

However, dozens of LonoLife lovers have either, in their product review, or in an email to us, reported that one of the benefits they experienced by taking our products is stronger nails. 

Does Research Prove Collagen Protein is Good For Your Nails?

However, before you hop on the collagen bandwagon, keep in mind you may come across an article that basically poo-poos bone broth and collagen health benefits because research is inconclusive. The naysayers believe that because there is not enough randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials, there's no proof bone broth and collagen unequivocally offers any health benefits. But the main barrier to getting a so-called "gold standard" random clinical trial (RCT) is funding. RCTs are very expensive to run. (It's highly doubtful a large pharmaceutical company would fund a study on our bone broth.)

On the contrary, we strongly believe there's more than enough research to support the use of bone broth and collagen protein supplementation. 

Collagen Protein for Stronger Nails 

Several diseases have been linked to collagen disorders. And collagen, along with keratin, is the major protein constituent in your nail bed. According to this study in Seminars in Dermatology, the following diseases can be observed by the modifications of the nail apparatus: systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, mixed connective tissue disease, rheumatoid arthritis, periarteritis nodosa, and Wegener granulomatosis.

This study suggests that microscopic abnormalities in the nail fold capillaries  can be observed in collagen disorders. 

One reason why collagen peptide powder may be a good supplement to take for your nails is because it's high in the amino acid, arginine. Collagen peptides contain 18 of the 20 amino acids. Arginine is one of them. Although there are five amino acids in collagen peptides that have more mg per serving than arginine, it's this amino acid that shines (no pun intended) for nail growth. 

How Does Collagen Build Stronger Nails?

Recall the paragraph above that says collagen disorders occur at the capillary level. Capillaries are tiny blood vessels. They bring nutrients and oxygen to tissues, including the nails. And here's why arginine benefits the nails. It produces something called nitric oxide (NO). NO is a compound. It's primary role is to improve blood flow. In addition, NO, like capillaries, supplies nutrients. Specifically, NO carries nutrients to the nail roots. 

A study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology investigates if and how collagen peptides benefits the nails. 

Twenty-five participants took 2.5 g of a specific collagen peptide product, which, incidentally, is manufactured by the same company that produces LonoLife Grass-Fed Collagen Peptides. The subjects supplemented with the collagen peptide powder once a day for 24 weeks. After the 24 weeks, the test subjects abstained from the collagen peptide powder for 4 weeks. After the 4 weeks, their nail growth rate and the frequency of cracked and/or chipped nails were assessed. Also, an evaluation of symptoms and global clinical improvement score of brittle nails were assessed by a physician during treatment and 4 weeks after discontinuation.

Study with collagen supplement and nail growth

The results: supplementing with collagen peptides promoted an increase of 12% nail growth rate and a decrease of 42% in the frequency of broken nails. Moreover, about two-thirds of the subjects reported better outcomes with brittle nails. And almost 90% of the participants showed improvement even after the 4 weeks of not taking the collagen peptides. "The majority of participants (80%) agreed that the use of collagen peptides improved their nails' appearance, and were completely satisfied with the performance of the treatment," concluded the study authors. 

Of course, there will be skeptics of the study. They'll argue that not enough participants were included. But again, large randomized clinical trials are prohibitively expensive to run. So if you're willing to let this fact slide and perhaps give collagen peptides the benefit of the doubt and try it out you may see some great results yourself.

If you want to know more about collagen peptides and how they help strengthen nails, here's some more background....

For starters, you already know how arginine helps supply the nail bed with nutrients and better blood flow. But also, the researchers of the study above describe in more detail how collagen supplements can help grow your nails:

An article about the study says that the peptides, which are broken down collagen molecules, contain free amino acids. And these free amino acids provide the building block for the formation of dermal extracellular matrix proteins for the epidermal structure." The researchers add that the collagen peptides act as bioactive messengers, activating different signaling pathways and stimulating dermal and epidermal metabolism."

More Ways Collagen Can Help Your Nails

Gelita, the manufacturer of different brands of collagen peptides, including LonoLife, maintains that recent skin health studies reveal that consuming collagen peptides orally (as opposed to getting it injected in your face or other areas of your skin), stimulate fibroblast cells. Fibroblasts, the most common cells of connective tissue in humans, synthesize the extracellular matrix and the structural framework (collagen in your body tissues). The collagen in your own skin is a matrix, (triple helix, actually). Collagen peptides from bovine skin essentially provides the building blocks to support your own body's collagen. And by doing so, they influence your nail collagen metabolism from the inside.

But don't take our word for it, or the researcher's, check out some of our Amazon reviews.