Used in making metal coins and jewelry, valves and heat exchangers, and stainless steel. Also used for nickel plating, color ceramics, cosmetics, tobacco, and batteries. Can be found in the soil, air, and water. There are also nickel containing foods such as almonds, chick peas, cocoa, tomato, lentils, oats, peanuts, and walnuts.

NUTRIENT INTERACTIONS:

Iron is a competitive inhibitor of nickel absorption, therefore absorption is enhanced with iron deficiency. Vitamin C works as an antioxidant to counter ROS from nickel, and may also inhibit nickel absorption.

Hair is a reasonable tissue for monitoring accumulated body stores of Nickel (Ni). However, hair is OFTEN contaminated with Ni from hair treatments, dyes, and hair products. There is substantial evidence that Ni is an essential element which is required in extremely low amounts. However, excess Ni has been well established to be nephrotoxic, and carcinogenic. Elevated Ni is often found in individuals who work in the electronic and plating, mining, and steel manufacture industries. A cigarette typically contains from 2 to 6 mcg of Ni; Ni is absorbed more efficiently in the lungs (~35%) than in the gastrointestinal tract (~5%).

Food is the major source of exposure to Ni.

Foods naturally high in Nickel include chocolate, soybeans, nuts, and oatmeal. Individuals may also be exposed to nickel by breathing air, drinking water, or smoking tobacco containing Nickel. Stainless steel and coins contain Nickel. Some jewelry is plated with Nickel or made from Nickel alloys. Patients may be exposed to Nickel in artificial body parts made from Nickel-containing alloys.

The most common harmful health effect of Nickel in humans is an allergic reaction. Approximately 10% to 20% of the population is sensitive to Nickel. The most serious harmful health effects from exposure to Nickel, such as chronic bronchitis, reduced lung function, and cancer of the lung and nasal sinus, have occurred in people who have breathed dust containing certain Nickel compounds while working in Nickel refineries or nickel-processing plants.

Hair is a reasonable tissue for monitoring accumulated body stores of Nickel (Ni). However, hair is OFTEN contaminated with Ni from hair treatments, dyes, and hair products. There is substantial evidence that Ni is an essential element which is required in extremely low amounts. However, excess Ni has been well established to be nephrotoxic, and carcinogenic. Elevated Ni is often found in individuals who work in the electronic and plating, mining, and steel manufacture industries. A cigarette typically contains from 2 to 6 mcg of Ni; Ni is absorbed more efficiently in the lungs (~35%) than in the gastrointestinal tract (~5%).

Niacin (nicotinic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin that is also referred to as vitamin B3.

Nicotinamide (nicotinic acid amide) is the derivative of niacin that is incorporated into the coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP).

Both nicotinic acid and nicotinamide are absorbed from the normal diet. Nicotinamide is the form of vitamin B3 that is commonly found in nutritional supplements and used to fortify foods. Nicotinic acid is available both over the counter and with a prescription as a cholesterol-lowering agent. 

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a coenzyme found in every cell. It plays a central role in converting nutrients into usable energy, particularly through mitochondrial pathways that produce ATP. NAD also participates in cellular redox reactions and supports processes involved in DNA repair, cell signaling, and the regulation of metabolic activity.

NAD levels may be influenced by age, genetics, diet, exercise, fasting, overall health, and supplements such as niacin, nicotinamide riboside, or NMN. Results can also vary with collection time and sample handling. Because NAD testing is still an emerging area and reference standards are not fully standardized, results should be interpreted using the testing laboratory’s specific method, specimen type, and reference range rather than as a stand-alone measure of health or disease.

Niacin (nicotinic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin that is also referred to as vitamin B3.

Nicotinamide (nicotinic acid amide) is the derivative of niacin that is incorporated into the coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP).

The "Night Cortisol" marker on a Cortisol panel by Neurolab is a crucial measure that helps understand the functioning of the body's stress response system, specifically during nighttime. Cortisol, often called the stress hormone, is produced by the adrenal glands and follows a diurnal rhythm, meaning its levels fluctuate throughout the day. Typically, cortisol levels peak in the early morning and gradually decline throughout the day, reaching their lowest point at night. The "Night Cortisol" marker measures the amount of cortisol present in the body during the nighttime, usually collected through a saliva sample before bedtime. Monitoring nighttime cortisol is essential because elevated levels during this period can indicate various health issues, such as chronic stress, insomnia, or adrenal disorders.

Sources:

Niobiumis sometimes found in jewelry, and is used with other alloys, like titanium, to make surgical implants and dental applications. It is also a component of superconducting magnets and nuclear reactor cores.

Physiologic effects:

Niobium is poorly absorbed from the GI tract.

Clinical significance:

It is a moderate eye and skin irritant. Due to poor GI absorption, it has a low order of toxicity. Lethargy and respiratory depression have only been seen with parenteral administration.

The presence of nitrates in urine is often considered a predictor of a urinary tract infection (UTI). Urinary tract infections are the most common cause of nitrites in urine. These occur when bacteria infect the bladder, ureters, or kidneys. Nitrites are byproducts of nitrogen waste. Bacteria responsible for an infection feed on this waste, breaking it down into nitrates, which can appear in the urine.

Produced by the mold genus Fusarium, the type B trichothecenes, nivalenol (NIV) and their acetylated precursors are often contaminating cereal staples, posing a potential threat to public health that is still incompletely understood.

Trichothecenes are very resistant to milling and processing, they can enter human food products easily. NIV is not found in food as commonly as DON; however, it demonstrates higher toxicity in animal studies. The toxicity of NIV is often compared to the toxicity of DON; however, the amount of toxicological data on NIV impact is much lower compared to DON.