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How nutrition works

Skin, hair and nails

Which nutrients contribute to the maintenance of normal skin, hair and nails.

Skin, hair and nails renew themselves constantly and need nutrients to do so. Some contribute to the maintenance of normal skin, hair and nails according to EU health claims. Here you find them – with evidence level and sources.

Nutrients & foods

  • Evidence: strong

    Vitamin C

    • Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin. [1][2]

      Authorised EU claim

  • Evidence: strong

    Zinc

    • Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal hair. [1]

      Authorised EU claim

  • Evidence: strong

    Iodine

    • Iodine contributes to the maintenance of normal skin. [1][3]

      Authorised EU claim

  • Evidence: strong

    Selenium

    • Selenium contributes to the maintenance of normal hair. [1][4]

      Authorised EU claim

  • Evidence: strong

    Vitamin A

    • Vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal skin. [1]

      Authorised EU claim

Sources

  1. 01European Commission · 2012Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 establishing a list of permitted health claims made on foods, other than those referring to the reduction of disease risk and to children's development and healthOpen source
  2. 02EFSA Journal · 2009Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to vitamin C and protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage (ID 129, 138, 143, 148), antioxidant function of lutein (ID 146), maintenance of vision (ID 141, 142), collagen formation (ID 130, 131, 136, 137, 149), function of the nervous system (ID 133), function of the immune system (ID 134), function of the immune system during and after extreme physical exercise (ID 144), non-haem iron absorption (ID 132, 147), energy-yielding metabolism (ID 135), and relief in case of irritation in the upper respiratory tract (ID 1714, 1715) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006DOI 10.2903/j.efsa.2009.1226
  3. 03EFSA Journal · 2009Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to iodine and thyroid function and production of thyroid hormones (ID 274), energy-yielding metabolism (ID 274), maintenance of vision (ID 356), maintenance of hair (ID 370), maintenance of nails (ID 370), and maintenance of skin (ID 370) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and AllergiesDOI 10.2903/j.efsa.2009.1214
  4. 04EFSA Journal · 2023Scientific opinion on the tolerable upper intake level for seleniumDOI 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7704