Raman spectroscopy identified fingernail compositional differences between sexes and age-related changes but not handedness or fingers in a healthy cohort

BACKGROUND: Nail properties and appearances can indicate a person's underlying systemic diseases. Raman spectroscopy is an established laboratory technique and has been applied to nails, identifying spectral differences between healthy individuals and patient populations.

OBJECTIVE: We aim to explore the importance of potential spectral or chemical variations in nails between sexes, age groups, hands, and fingers.

METHODS: Twenty male and twenty female participants without known musculoskeletal or dermatological diseases donated nail clippings from each finger. The clippings were cleaned, and Raman spectra collected and analysed using a standardised protocol.

RESULTS: In total 2000 spectra were collected. Females have higher intensities of disulphide, protein, and lipid bands, particularly in their 40s, than males. Age-related changes were prominent in female nails, especially in sulphur-related bands. No significant differences were observed between nails from the left and right hands or among different fingers.

LIMITATIONS: We did not control other factors such as diet, medication, or different occupation or sports participation.

CONCLUSION: This is the first study to use Raman spectroscopy to compare nail composition across different ages and sexes in healthy adults. The findings provide a strong basis for further studies on nails at the population level for screening or monitoring diseases.