Nickel

Requirements:

• RDA:
  
  None
• Average Intake (in U.S.):
  
  300 - 600 mcg./day

Supplement Forms:

• Usually not found in supplement form

Food Sources:

• Banana
• Beet greens
• Cider
• Clams
• Kale
• Kidney beans
• Lentils
• Navy bean
• Pea
• Peanuts
• Raisins
• Rhubarb
• Spinach
• Swiss chard

Deficiency:

• Limited data

Causes of Deficiency:

• Decreased levels of glucose 6 - phosphate
• Problems associated with decreases in pancreatic amylase production

Adverse Reactions and Toxicity:

• Very low toxicity
• Usually toxicity associated with inhalation of nickel carbonyl

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Limited data

Biochemical Functions:

• May help stabilize tertiary structure of nucleic acids and proteins
• May be involved with iron or vitamin metabolism

Clinical Indications:

• No therapeutic indications known

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).