Nickel
Category: toxic_elements
Information Sheet
What It Is
Nickel is a transition metal and ubiquitous environmental/dietary toxicant. A WHO/IARC Group 1 carcinogen (certain compounds), it is also a leading contact allergen. Of interest here as a heavy metal linked to oxidative stress, carcinogenesis, and (contested) neurodevelopmental associations.
Mechanism & Notes
- Drives oxidative stress (Fenton-type redox cycling, depletion of glutathione, displacement of essential metals like zinc/iron in enzymes)
- H. pylori requires nickel as a cofactor for its urease and [NiFe]-hydrogenase — a mechanistic bridge between nickel and gastric carcinogenesis
- Group 1 carcinogen (nickel compounds); also the most common cause of allergic contact dermatitis
Mentions
Most people think of aluminium and mercury when they hear "heavy metals linked to autism." But nickel deserves a seat at the table.
One study found autistic children had 30-fold higher plasma nickel levels than controls….
[ATTACHED IMAGE — analysed]: a research-paper figure of box-plots of plasma metal concentrations (As, Ca, Cd, Fe, Ni, Si, Zn) in autistic vs control children. The image is from Vergani et al. 2011, "Metals, metallothioneins and oxidative stress in blood of autistic children" (Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders). CALIBRATION: in the figure the largest elevations are ARSENIC (~6x) and IRON (~5x); nickel is only marginally higher between groups — the tweet's "30-fold higher nickel" claim is NOT supported by this figure. See paper source for detail.
Compounds: nickel, mercury, aluminium
One study found autistic children had 30-fold higher plasma nickel levels than controls….
[ATTACHED IMAGE — analysed]: a research-paper figure of box-plots of plasma metal concentrations (As, Ca, Cd, Fe, Ni, Si, Zn) in autistic vs control children. The image is from Vergani et al. 2011, "Metals, metallothioneins and oxidative stress in blood of autistic children" (Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders). CALIBRATION: in the figure the largest elevations are ARSENIC (~6x) and IRON (~5x); nickel is only marginally higher between groups — the tweet's "30-fold higher nickel" claim is NOT supported by this figure. See paper source for detail.
Compounds: nickel, mercury, aluminium
One thing I find incredibly fascinating: both nickel and H. pylori are group 1 carcinogens and have been connected to a rise in risk of stomach cancer by many of the same mechanisms.
Even more interesting? H. pylori actually requires nickel to survive.
[quote-tweeting @biohacker's thread on H. pylori depleting glutathione and SOD — see that source]
Compounds: nickel (+ H. pylori, stomach cancer)
Even more interesting? H. pylori actually requires nickel to survive.
[quote-tweeting @biohacker's thread on H. pylori depleting glutathione and SOD — see that source]
Compounds: nickel (+ H. pylori, stomach cancer)
Vergani et al. 2011, 'Metals, metallothioneins and oxidative stress in blood of autistic children' (Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders). Case-control plasma study (ICP-AES, ng metal/g plasma) — the source of the box-plot figure shared by @BioavailableNd. Seven elements significantly higher in autistic children (Zn, Ca, Fe, As, Ni, Cd, Si). Largest elevations: ARSENIC (~6x) and IRON (~5x); cadmium and zinc clearly raised. NICKEL only marginally higher (~3 ng/g in both groups) — does NOT support the '30-fold nickel' claim. Also raised metallothionein mRNA and SOD, lower catalase. Association, not causation; small single Italian cohort.
Compounds: nickel, arsenic, cadmium, iron, zinc
Compounds: nickel, arsenic, cadmium, iron, zinc