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Nickel
1. What is the nutrient?
Nickel
2. What is the RDA/DRI for the nutrient?
No established RDA/DRI. Some sources say 300mcg-700mcg
3. How is the nutrient metabolized?
The 10mg of nickel within the body are found in RNA and DNA where it
interacts with nucleic acids. Most of plasma nickel is a constituent of the
circulating proteins nickeloplasmin and albumin, and it is also thought to be a
factor in hormone, lipid and cell membrane metabolism. Insulin response is
increased after ingesting nickel, which may be related to its activation of enzymes
associated with the breakdown or utilization of glucose.
4. What are food sources of the nutrient?
Unrefined whole grains, nuts, oysters, tea, herring, buckwheat seed, peas, beans,
soybeans, lentils.
5. What disease states alter the nutrients metabolism?
Heart and renal disease, burn trauma, and heat exposure can either raise or lower
serum nickel levels. To what extent factors such as age, or nutritional status affect
nickel metabolism in humans is unknown.
6. What are the tests or procedures to assess the nutrient level in the body?
There is no specific test for assessing the content of nickel within the body.
However, in order to test for an allergic reaction to nickel, a skin test may be
performed.
7.
What is the drug –nutrient interactions?
Because there is no RDA/DRI for nickel, little is known about the drug nutrient
interactions of nickel. However, there appears to be some association between
Nickel and Vitamin C. Since Vitamin C increases iron absorption, iron deficiency
anemia is often found in the presence of low nickel.
8.
How is the nutrient measured?
While more research is needed, most sources measure foods containing nickel in
micrograms.
9. What is the Upper Tolerable Limits?
There is no known Upper Tolerable Limit.
10.What are the physical signs of deficiency?
Low intake of nickel increases risk for hyperglycemia, low blood pressure,
depression, fatigue, sinus congestion, anemia, and liver disease.
11.What are physical signs of toxicity?
Nickel toxicity is usually not a problem unless several grams are ingested from
non-dietary sources, or if the body naturally tends to store nickel in excess, which
may lead to asthma, angina and/or other cardiac symptoms as a result of nickel
interfering with Vitamin E activity. Some individuals may be allergic to nickel in
the form of jewelry, eyeglass frames, or dental materials, which can cause rash
and skin reactions.
References
Roth, R. (2010). Acu-Cell Nutrition. Nickel & Cobalt. Retrieved from: http://www.acucell.com/nico.html
Unit ed St at es Depart ment of Agr icult ure, Init ia ls. (2009, Oct ober 23). Dri
tables. Ret r ieved fro m
ht t p://fnic. nal.usda.gov/ nal_displa y/ index. php?info_cent er=4&t ax_l
evel=3&t ax_subject =256 &t opic_id=1342&lev
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (1990). Health Assessment Document
for Nickel. Retrieved from:
http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyNET.exe/2000TK0Z.txt?ZyActionD=ZyDocument&
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