Risks of high nickel intake with diet.

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Dermatology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Nickel is a common metal found in various foods.
• Elevated nickel intake is a known trigger for allergic contact dermatitis, specifically hand eczema in sensitized individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify food items high in nickel.
• To estimate daily nickel intake from a Danish diet.
• To assess the potential risk of nickel-induced hand eczema flares.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of nickel content in common food items.
• Dietary assessment to calculate average daily nickel intake.
• Estimation of nickel intake during special dietary occasions.

Main Results:

• Specific food items with high nickel concentrations were identified.
• Average daily nickel intake was calculated to be 150 micrograms/day.
• Nickel intake can surge to 900 micrograms/day on special occasions.

Conclusions:

• Dietary nickel intake, particularly on special occasions, can exceed levels that may provoke hand eczema in nickel-sensitive patients.
• Awareness of high-nickel foods is crucial for managing nickel allergy.
• Further research into dietary nickel management is warranted.