What Causes a Nickel Deficiency and Is It a Real Concern?

December 7, 2025 •

4 min read

While severe deficiencies are typically only seen in specific medical situations, it is essential to understand what causes a nickel deficiency to avoid potential health complications. Nickel is a trace element that our bodies need in very tiny amounts to function properly.

Quick Summary

Nickel deficiency is extremely uncommon, typically arising from serious malabsorption disorders like celiac or Crohn's disease, chronic kidney or liver problems, and specific medical treatments such as long-term dialysis.

Key Points

Not a Dietary Issue: Nickel deficiency is rarely caused by low dietary intake in healthy individuals due to the body's minimal requirements.
Malabsorption is a Major Cause: Digestive disorders like Celiac disease, Crohn's disease, and post-bariatric surgery can significantly impair nickel absorption.
Chronic Illness Connection: Liver cirrhosis and chronic renal failure, especially with long-term dialysis, are known medical causes.
Increased Loss: Excessive and prolonged sweating can contribute to mineral loss, including nickel, although it's typically a minor factor.
Medication Interference: Long-term use of certain drugs, like Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) and intravenous feeding without supplementation, can affect nickel levels.
Iron Link: Animal studies suggest nickel deficiency can lead to impaired iron absorption and related issues like anemia.
Clinical Diagnosis Needed: Diagnosing a true nickel deficiency requires laboratory testing and a medical professional's evaluation, as symptoms overlap with many other conditions.

The Primary Culprits: Malabsorption and Chronic Illness

A nickel deficiency is not usually caused by a lack of dietary intake, as this trace element is present in small amounts in a wide range of foods. Instead, the root causes are almost always related to conditions that affect the body's ability to absorb or retain nutrients. For most healthy individuals, dietary nickel is more than sufficient.

Malabsorption Disorders

One of the most significant causes of nickel deficiency is malabsorption, where the gastrointestinal tract is unable to absorb nutrients from food effectively.

Celiac Disease: This autoimmune disorder damages the lining of the small intestine, impairing its ability to absorb many essential nutrients, including trace elements like nickel.
Crohn's Disease and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): These conditions cause chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, which can disrupt normal nutrient absorption and lead to deficiencies.
Gastric Bypass Surgery: Surgical treatments that alter the digestive system can reduce the absorptive surface area of the gut, causing significant issues with nutrient absorption.
Pancreatic Insufficiency: A condition where the pancreas doesn't produce enough of the enzymes needed to digest food can also lead to malabsorption of minerals.

Chronic Illnesses

Several severe, long-term medical conditions can affect the body's mineral balance and lead to a deficiency, even if absorption is initially normal.

Chronic Kidney Failure: Patients undergoing long-term dialysis can experience a depletion of nickel, as the treatment process can inadvertently remove essential trace elements from the bloodstream.
Liver Cirrhosis: This condition, characterized by irreversible scarring of the liver, can impair the metabolism of various substances, including hormones and minerals that depend on a healthy liver function.
Vitamin B6 Deficiency: Low levels of Vitamin B6 can sometimes accompany nickel deficiency, though the exact relationship is still being investigated.

Factors that Influence Nickel Loss and Depletion

Beyond direct absorption issues, other factors can also contribute to lower nickel levels in the body, typically in combination with pre-existing conditions.

Excessive Sweating

Though a less common cause on its own, excessive or prolonged sweating can contribute to the loss of trace minerals, including nickel, from the body. This might be a contributing factor in individuals who sweat profusely due to climate, intensive exercise, or other underlying conditions. Rehydration with only plain water after heavy sweating can worsen the electrolyte imbalance.

Medications and Iatrogenic Causes

Certain medical interventions and drug therapies have been linked to an increased risk of trace mineral deficiencies.

Long-term Parenteral Nutrition: For patients on prolonged intravenous feeding without proper mineral supplementation, a nickel deficiency can develop.
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs): Long-term use of these drugs, which reduce stomach acid, may affect the absorption of certain trace elements like nickel.
Chelating Agents: Oral chelating agents, sometimes used in dermatology to treat nickel allergy by increasing excretion, can also induce a deficiency if not carefully monitored.

Extremely Restrictive Diets

While nickel is ubiquitous in most diets, extremely restrictive eating patterns that eliminate a wide range of foods may unintentionally lower nickel intake. This is far less common than malabsorption as a cause of deficiency but is a potential factor in some cases. A vegan diet, for example, is generally higher in nickel than an animal-based one, but certain highly processed, limited diets could pose a risk.

Comparison of Dietary vs. Clinical Causes


Feature	Dietary Intake-Related Causes	Clinical (Medical) Causes
Prevalence	Very Rare	More Common among at-risk populations
Mechanism	Insufficient intake due to severely restrictive diets	Impaired absorption or increased excretion due to disease or treatment
Underlying Condition	Extreme dietary restrictions, potentially paired with other issues	Gastrointestinal disorders (celiac, Crohn's), kidney disease, liver cirrhosis
Associated Symptoms	Varies, potentially low iron absorption	May include symptoms of the underlying disease and impaired nutrient metabolism
Primary Treatment	Adjusting diet to include more whole foods and nickel sources	Addressing the primary medical condition and potentially targeted supplementation

The Rarity of Nickel Deficiency

For most people, nickel deficiency is not a significant concern. The body only requires minute amounts of nickel, and it is widely available in many plant-based foods, including nuts, seeds, and whole grains. Research into the specific roles of nickel in human health is ongoing, but its essentiality as a nutrient for humans has been debated and is not as clearly defined as other minerals. Animal studies have provided much of the current understanding of the effects of nickel deprivation, showing links to impaired iron absorption and bone development. In healthy humans, the dietary intake from a varied diet is typically sufficient, and issues only arise when underlying health problems interfere with absorption or increase excretion. For example, the body can struggle to absorb iron when it is deficient in nickel, potentially leading to anemia.

Conclusion

Ultimately, a nickel deficiency is an uncommon medical phenomenon primarily triggered by underlying health issues rather than simple dietary neglect. Conditions affecting the digestive system, such as celiac disease and Crohn's, are prime drivers of malabsorption, while chronic kidney failure and certain medications can also deplete levels. For the general population, the trace amounts of nickel found in a balanced diet are sufficient to meet the body's minimal requirements. Addressing an underlying medical condition is the most effective approach to correcting a true deficiency. If you suspect a problem, consulting with a healthcare professional is essential for accurate diagnosis and management, as supplementing without need can be harmful. Research into this trace element is still developing, but current understanding points away from dietary restriction as a common cause. For further reading on the biological role and toxicology of nickel, you may refer to this comprehensive review: A comprehensive review on the sources, essentiality and toxicological profile of nickel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Nickel deficiency is extremely rare in the general population. Most healthy individuals receive sufficient amounts from their regular diet, as the body only requires minute quantities.

Excessive and prolonged sweating can cause the body to lose trace amounts of nickel and other electrolytes. While not a primary cause on its own, it can be a contributing factor in specific situations.

No, specialized nickel supplements are not typically available or recommended. Supplementation should only be done under the supervision of a healthcare provider if a confirmed deficiency is present, as excessive intake can be harmful.

Research suggests a link between nickel and iron metabolism. In cases of nickel deficiency, impaired iron absorption can occur, which may worsen or lead to iron-related anemia.

Diagnosis is difficult based solely on symptoms, as they can overlap with many other disorders. A definitive diagnosis requires a medical professional to evaluate symptoms and perform laboratory tests that measure nickel levels in blood or urine.

Yes, malabsorption issues resulting from conditions like Celiac disease, Crohn's disease, or gastric bypass surgery are a primary cause of nickel deficiency. These conditions disrupt the gut's ability to properly absorb nutrients.

A low-nickel diet is prescribed for individuals with a nickel allergy. For most people, a well-rounded diet provides enough nickel. It is unlikely to cause a deficiency, though it is not recommended for children due to concerns of inadequate intake.