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minerals (nutrition)
nickel (Ni)
Nutrition

definition

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