| Proper name |
Nickel ( The chemical symbol is NI) |
| Category |
Trace
mineral |
| Functions |
Nickel is present in RNA. Nickel increases the blood sugar lowering effects
of insulin. Nickel influences the number of mitochondrial and liver enzymes.
Serum nickel levels increase in response to physiologic stress such as heart
attack and stroke. |
| RDA |
None |
| Therapeutic
dose |
No supplemental nickel is recommended. |
| Deficiency symptoms |
No cases of human nickel deficiency are reported. Experimentally induced
nickel deficiency in laboratory animals results in anemia, smaller litter
sizes and changes in the liver. |
| Toxicity |
Oral ingestion of nickel is relatively safe, though excessive intake of
nickel over long periods of time may result in degeneration of the heart,
brain, liver and kidney. Inhalation of large quantities of nickel or nickel
carbonyl (a compound of nickel and carbon monoxide) is implicated in lung
cancer. These compounds are found in cigarette smoke. Some people have
an allergic sensitivity to nickel jewelry. Some persons with psoriasis
or eczema have elevated nickel levels in the skin and blood. |
| Best
forms
|
Varied diet |
| Food
sources |
Nickel is commonly found in whole grains and vegetables. |
| Lab
tests |
Hair trace mineral analysis |
| Drug
interactions |
None
noted |
| Nutrient interactions |
Nickel deficiency suppresses iron absorption. |
| Metabolism |
Nickel is present
in many body tissues with the highest concentrations found in the skin
and bone marrow.
|
