Question

My child has white spots on their nails and is experiencing anorexia. What element deficiency could this be caused by? If it’s indeed a vitamin deficiency, what medication should be used for supplementation? Can you recommend any? Thank you.

Answer

White spots or mother-of-pearl-like patterns on the nails indicate a deficiency of calcium, silicon, and other trace elements, along with parasites. Such individuals are prone to nervousness, irritability, and habitual constipation. White spots or flaky white spots on the nails may indicate a zinc deficiency or gastrointestinal illness or anemia. Rough and lackluster nails with grooves, longitudinal stripes, white spots, and abnormal proportions of health rings are often signs of poor constitution. Although there is no clear medical explanation for white spots on the nails, in clinical practice, we have found that some children with calcium and zinc deficiencies exhibit this condition. It is recommended to take your child to the hospital for a trace element test to determine the cause and receive appropriate treatment.