Could GLP-1s Be Changing Your Fingernails?

Add It to the List: By now, many of the potential side effects of GLP-1 use are well-documented, including digestive issues and hair loss. Recent research may have identified another one: changes to the fingernails, including discoloration and detachment. 

The Study: In a controlled study including participants from the U.S., Brazil, Mexico, and France, researchers compared 575 people taking GLP-1 medications with 1,329 people with type 2 diabetes and/or obesity who’d never used the drugs. Two-thirds of the GLP-1 users reported some problem with their nails. GLP-1 users were more than four times more likely to experience nail detachment (39%), compared with people who had never taken a GLP-1 (9%). Nail discoloration was also more common among the participants on a GLP-1.

The Takeaway: Weight loss might seem like a logical cause, but the researchers found that it didn’t fully explain the nail problems. Even in participants who’d lost weight without taking a GLP-1, the nail issues were significantly more common among the GLP-1 users. As GLP-1 drugs reduce appetite, nutritional deficiencies also likely affect nail health, experts say. 

Keep in Mind: The study was correlational and did not conclude that GLP-1 use will cause your nails to fall off.