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How does nickel affect the body?
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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The word "nickel" means - you'll never guess! - a mischievous person. This trace element got its name from the German word Nickel - that was the name of an evil mountain spirit who allegedly threw fake copper ore to miners. When this ore was smelted in smelting furnaces, it released toxic arsenic gases, which is why nickel was considered a very harmful substance for a long time. How does nickel actually affect the body?
Is nickel really dangerous?
This microelement was discovered in 1751 by Krondstedt, a Swedish mineralogist. But no benefit to the human body from nickel was discovered until the 1970s. Later, as it turned out, the body does need nickel, but only in very small quantities. Nickel was not recognized for a long time because it has a very high toxicity, that is, it can have serious side effects on health. Thus, supplements with additional doses of nickel are rarely needed, and as a rule, a person gets enough of it in a regular menu.
What does nickel look like?
Nickel is a metal that is usually silvery-white in color. Nickel often combines with other metals to form mixtures known as alloys. Nickel is found in the earth's crust, which means that some amounts of it are found in water, soil, air, and food. Most of the nickel in our bodies comes from foods that contain this trace element. You can also get a dose of nickel as a side effect of smoking tobacco.
Nickel in Foods
Nickel is found in some foods, but in very small amounts. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Americans consume about 170 micrograms of nickel each day when they eat common foods. Foods with the highest concentrations of nickel include chocolate, soybeans, nuts, and oatmeal. Tap water and cigarette smoke also contain small amounts of nickel. Handling coins also contains small amounts of nickel; when you handle coins, the nickel enters your bloodstream through your skin.
Beneficial properties of nickel
Nickel is a component of every cell in our body. It plays an important role in the metabolism of some proteins and can contribute to the production of hormones, lipids, and cell membranes. Nickel is also used by our body to convert glucose into energy.
According to the book "Healthy Eating, Fitness and Sports", small amounts of nickel can help our bodies form enzymes that speed up chemical reactions in the body, especially helping in the formation of new nucleic acids and DNA.
Nickel toxicity
Too much nickel is considered highly toxic and can have negative health effects. The most common side effect of nickel is allergic reactions, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Ingesting too much nickel can cause gastrointestinal upset, elevated red blood cell counts, kidney stress, chronic bronchitis, decreased lung function, and in some cases, lung cancer.
Toxic effects of nickel
Drinking water that has high levels of nickel, about 250 parts per million, can cause kidney and blood cell problems, but this is rare. Inhaling smoke or dust that contains nickel compounds can happen if you work in hazardous industries or in environmentally unfriendly areas. This can lead to decreased lung function, bronchitis, and an increased risk of lung cancer and cancer.
Dietary recommendations
A diet high in foods that contain nickel may increase the risk of developing adverse effects associated with high nickel intake. If you have a nickel allergy, avoid foods and jewelry that contain nickel. There is currently no recommended daily intake for nickel, but the National Agricultural Library's tolerable upper intake level for nickel is 1 mg in adults.
Small amounts of nickel in the body are normal, but elevated levels may be associated with potentially harmful environmental exposures.
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Physiological uses of nickel
Nickel is essential for many animals. For example, rats and chickens need nickel in their diet to prevent liver disease. It is not yet known whether nickel deficiency is important for human health. According to the U.S. Institute for Information, low levels of nickel in the body are associated with kidney and liver disease. Nickel may also play a role in the functioning of specialized proteins known as enzymes.
Nickel allergy
The most common way nickel can negatively affect the human body is through allergic reactions. A nickel allergy is often caused by contact dermatitis, which is a rash on the skin. It happens when you touch nickel. This reaction usually occurs between 12 and 48 hours after you are exposed to nickel. It can affect people of any age. Your skin may become red, dry, and itchy, and sweating can make a nickel allergy worse. Nickel allergies can be treated with over-the-counter medications.
Nickel allergy manifests as contact dermatitis, usually on the hands. Nickel exposure occurs through contact with jewelry, buttons, fasteners, cosmetics, and detergents, but some foods actually contain nickel and can cause flare-ups if eaten. Most nickel-containing foods, with the exception of mussels, are grains, nuts, and legumes that have absorbed nickel from the soil. A low-nickel diet can be healthier and more balanced.
Low Nickel Products
It is important to include low-nickel food sources in your diet and avoid foods that are high in nickel. Low-nickel foods include beef, ham, poultry, cucumbers, cheese, milk, yogurt, onions, cabbage, spinach, lettuce, corn, pumpkin, carrots, apples, pears, and strawberries.
Other foods that are low in nickel include liver, kidney and sausages, but these foods should be eaten in small portions rather than all at once if you want to maintain a healthy diet. These are the protein sources that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol and should be eaten in moderation.
Chocolate / Cocoa powder
According to the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, chocolate is one of the foods that contains high levels of nickel. Bittersweet chocolate contains 2.6 µg/g nickel, milk chocolate contains 1.2 µg/g nickel, and pure cocoa powder contains 9.8 µg/g nickel. The nickel content in chocolate is high due to the intense refining process and constant contact with stainless steel machines.
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Cashew
Cashews also contain a relatively high concentration of nickel. The nickel concentration of cashew nuts is 5.1 μg/g. Consuming cashew nuts may provide health benefits such as preventing gallstones, developing cardiovascular disease, and maintaining healthy bones and muscles.
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Beans
Red kidney beans are another dietary source of nickel. The nickel concentration in red kidney beans is 0.45 μg/g. Beans are also a very good source of protein, fiber, folate, and magnesium, which may have beneficial effects on health. Eating beans is good for heart health and blood sugar regulation.
Spinach
Spinach contains a large amount of natural nickel, 0.39 mcg / g. Spinach is also an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin K, vitamin A, calcium and potassium. Consuming spinach brings many beneficial properties, such as anti-inflammatory activity in the body and cancer prevention, as well as effects associated with its high concentration of antioxidants.
Nickel is an element that is naturally found in soil and in many foods and drinks. According to the Nickel Institute, a certain amount of nickel is essential for seed germination and proper growth.
The US Nickel Institute also reports that nickel plays an important role in maintaining proper nutrients in the earth's soil. You may have an allergy to nickel, which can cause skin reactions. If you have this allergy, you may need to monitor your nickel intake. The amount of nickel in food depends on the soil in which the food is grown and the pesticides used in food processing equipment. Some foods and drinks you consume may contain nickel.
Oatmeal, nuts and dried fruits
Nickel can be found in foods like oatmeal, nuts, and dried fruits like apricots. These foods contain small amounts of nickel. Research suggests that having nickel in your body may help maintain healthy calcium levels in your blood. MayoClinic.com reports that if you have a nickel allergy, you may need to limit your intake of nickel-containing foods. Talk to your doctor to discuss appropriate nickel intake.
Nickel drinks
Beer, tea, coffee and all of these together can be a source of nickel. Consuming nickel from food sources can cause aggravation of dermatitis. To avoid this, or a possible nickel allergy, you can control or limit your consumption of these nickel-containing drinks.
Canned goods
Canned foods are sources of nickel. Canned foods may include beans, vegetables, fruits, and fish. If you have a nickel allergy, you may want to limit your intake of canned foods that contain nickel.