Nickel is used as a co-factor for some B vitamins


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Nickel in a nutshell:
Nickel is an ultra trace element, being required in very small concentrations so it can be used as a cofactor for some B vitamins.

Best source of Nickel for Juicers
It is not really recommended to take nickel supplements unless directed by your physician as it is quite toxic.  Therefore we are not including any sources for juicers.

What Is Nickel?

Nickel is a common contaminant in many mineral supplement formulas. It can be helpful for several closeup-of-jefferson-nickelhealth conditions when it is taken in strictly limited amounts.

Alternate names: Nickel; niquel.

Nickel is the shiny mineral used in making coins in the United States and in making electric guitar strings, batteries, and stainless steel in the rest of the world. It is found in the enzymes bacteria use to break down urine and in some of the antioxidant enzymes found in plants.

What Does Nickel Do in the Human Body?

Everyone consumes trace amounts of nickel from food, primarily from plants that contain nickel. People may absorb up to 1 mg of nickel every day from their diets, especially when they eat dark chocolate, nuts, or soy products.

Scientists know that nickel absorbed from food tends to stay in the body. It is thought to be a cofactor for the B vitamin biotin and for vitamin B12. The body uses both biotin and vitamin B12 in microgram (millionth of a gram) amounts, and it needs a much smaller amount of nickel for some enzymes that use these vitamins. For this reason, nickel is known as an ultratrace element.

Scientists estimate that the human body needs about 100 micrograms (millionths of a gram) of nickel every day. Since our diets usually provide about a milligram of nickel a day, about 10 times as much nickel as our bodies need, nickel deficiency symptoms are unknown. However, nickel supplements may assist in recovery from some disease conditions.

Using Nickel Supplements to Assist Recovery from Disease

Nickel supplements help the body absorb iron from food. This is helpful if you have iron-deficiency anemia, but harmful if you have hemochromatosis, the hereditary iron-overload disease. Some nutritionally oriented physicians also recommend nickel supplements for osteoporosis. It's important to take no more than 1 mg of nickel per day and to use the supplement only on a short-term basis. For instance, if you buy 30 pills or capsules, finish the bottle and wait six months before taking nickel supplements again.

Nickel Toxicity

Far more people experience toxic reactions from nickel than benefit from taking nickel supplements. At about 300 times the recommend dose, 300 mg in a single day, most users experience vomiting, diarrhea, wheezing, cough, headache, and blurred vision. At about 1000 times the recommended dose, or when 1 gram of nickel is consumed, these problems are much worse. Taking 1 mg or more of nickel supplements can cause shortness of breath and coughing that can last for several days. The symptoms only get worse until you stop taking the supplement.

All forms of nickel except metallic nickel are potentially carcinogenic. They bind to DNA and may switch off cancer-protective genes and switch on cancer-causing genes.

Metallic nickel can cause rashes and dermatitis. This most commonly occurs during piercings. The nickel used for skin piercing can trigger a localized rash, sometimes with blisters. About 1% of people who have skin sensitivity to metallic nickel will also get a skin reaction when they take nickel supplements, so use any form of nickel in moderation and with caution.

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About Andy Williams

In a processed food culture, simply eating may not be enough. Dr. Andy Williams is a scientist with a strong interest in Juicing and how it can supply the body with the nutrients it needs to thrive in modern society. You can subscribe to his free daily paper called Juicing The Rainbow and follow him on Facebook orTwitter.

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