Nickel:
» metabolism:
About 10 mg of nickel are found in the body, mostly in the skin and bone marrow. The largest amount (18%) is found in the skin.
The liver and the muscle tissues are the most responsive to the dietary intake of nickel.
Average absorption is about 3-10%. It is enhanced during pregnancy. Absorption increases with dose and appears to share the same receptors as cobalt and iron.
Following absorption and distribution, 60% is lost in the urine with smaller amounts found in the bile and the sweat. Excretion varies depending upon intake with the higher intakes resulting in greater excretion.
» function:
Found to be essential in 1973 for chicks, rats, mini pigs and goats, nickel is present in RNA and DNA.
It may help stabilize the tertiary structure of the nucleic acids and proteins or function as a cofactor for certain enzymes, especially liver dehydrogenases.
It may be involved with iron or vitamin metabolism to some extent.
Levels of nickel rise during trauma as from MI, stroke and labor.
» requirements:
Estimated safe and adequate daily dietary intake (ESADDI): ?/day
Average intake in the U.S.: 300 µg-600 µg per day
» food sources:
Nickel is found primarily in plants, nuts and fruits. Wheat contains 40µg per 100gms; nuts, 100µg - 500µg per 100gms; legumes, 40-160 µg per 100gms; fruits contain lesser amounts.
Best Sources of Nickel:
Food Amount mg
Beet greens. cooked 1/2 cup 0.14
Cider 1 cup 0.14
Kidney beans, dried 1/4 cup 0.12
Peas, split, dried 1/4 cup 0.08
Navy beans, dried 1/4 cup 0.08
Lentils, dried 1/4 cup 0.08
Clams, uncooked 3 oz 0.07
Kale, cooked 1/2 cup 0.06
Banana 1 med 0.06
Swiss chard, cooked 1/2 cup 0.05
Spinach, raw 1 oz 0.04
Peanuts 1/4 cup 0.2
Raisins 1/4 cup 0.2
Rhubarb 1 cup 0.7
Pear 1 med 0.04
Broccoli 1/2 cup 0.026
Peas 1/2 cup 0.024
Bread, whole wheat 1 slice 0.021
Celery, chopped 1/2 cup 0.022
(USDA: Composition of Foods. USDA Handbook #8 Washington DC, ARS, USDA, 1976-1986)
» deficiency:
Nickel deficiency results in decreased levels of glucose 6-phosphate which is involved in the production of NADPH via the pentose phosphate shunt pathway.
In animals a nickel deficiency may result in decreased levels of iron.
It may also be related to problems with decreases in pancreatic amylase production.
Chiefly, its effects occur with regard to mitochondria and hepatocytes.
» therapeutics:
Nickel has no known therapeutic value at this time.
» toxicity:
Nickel has a very low toxicity level, usually related to the inhalation of certain forms, such as nickel carbonyl, which has been shown to cause lung cancer in several animal species.
In animals chronic excessive intake or exposure causes degeneration of the myocardium, brain, lung, liver, and kidney.
None known.
footnotes
Marz, Russell. Medical Nutrition From Marz. Second Edition. Portland, OR. 1997.
USDA: Composition of Foods. USDA Handbook #8 Washington DC, ARS, USDA, 1976-1986