Clinical pictures of unmistakable signs and symptoms due to hypovitaminosis or avitaminosis are well known. In a recent editorial1 of The Journal are emphasized the remarks of McLester2 that chronic vitamin deficiency may produce vague borderline or subclinical disorders. While many syndromes are being attributed to lack of vitamins at the present time, seven cases of definite nail deformities have been observed in the past two years which are believed to have been due to chronic hypovitaminosis, especially B2 and D.
The earliest manifestations are irregular, longitudinal ridging with short transverse, semipunctate depressions. This was first observed in a woman, aged 38, who had restricted her diet too severely in controlling the symptoms of another disease. The six other patients were all women who had dieted for several years because of a marked tendency to become obese. Ages ranged from 35 to 50. All had