Does Nickel Show Up In
Vitamins, Minerals, and Supplements?
Some people take vitamins, while others don't. I am a hefty vitamin/supplement consumer!
Each night my palm is heaped with various vitamins. And in the morning I take a smaller portion of about 8 supplements. All of it really seems to help me manage hay fever, allergic responses, along with colds and flu.
It concerned me that nickel might be contained in my daily supplements. After all, I could be working really hard to avoid skin contact with nickel and iron oxide, but then defeat all this effort by consuming something that causes other reactions.
The first direction I went to seek answers was with my friendly health food store owner. She helped out by doing her own research. It appears that multi-vitamins could be the greatest risk of containing nickel and iron oxide. Singular vitamins like Vitamin E and Calcium have very little risk that they may contain nickel and iron oxide.
I decided to help my Nickel and Iron Oxide Allergies by beginning a detox to get rid of at least some of the toxins that were causing my allergic responses. I selected the Ultimate Cleanse. Some people also take Iron supplements while using this cleanse. But I decided to leave that out, since I am still researching whether Iron supplements are a problem with my Iron Oxide allergy.
I spent quite awhile researching online to find the answer. Most of the answers online seemed to be research results that were written for doctors. And I try to sift through it to understand at least some of what is discussed. And I have to say that my searching will continue. Sometimes it feels like I find conflicting information from various research sources.
Today's post contains a selection of quotes from sources
I discovered while attempting to find answers
Vitamin C and Iron
The final, and probably least appreciated, factor in the effects of dietary nickel is absorption of ingested nickel. It has been demonstrated that vitamin C decreases absorption of dietary nickel, as does iron. Co-ingestion, or lack thereof, of these two nutrients can have a major effect on nickel absorption, even without alteration of the amount of nickel ingestion. Factors such as these highlight how little is understood about the ingestion and metabolism of dietary nickel and the factors that can affect it.
Studies have found that taking a vitamin C supplement with each meal as well as eating an iron-rich diet can help prevent absorption of nickel in the body.http://www.healthline.com/health/allergies/nickel#2
Other substances/physical states that interfere with nickel absorption from diet
- Vitamin C, orange juice, tea, coffee, milk inhibit nickel absorption in human
- Iron deficiency Anemia, Pregnancy and Lactation can enhance nickel absorption in human body
- Adequate iron intake and status can reduce nickel absorption from diet in human.
Zinc
Based on animal studies, some effects of nickel may be eliminated or reduced by supplementing with divalent essential metals. Weissmann and Menné reported cases of nickel dermatitis as having improved following oral administration of zinc sulfate (ZnSO4). One clinical study showed that the administration of ZnSO4 could improve the clinical manifestations of nickel contact dermatitis and could eliminate or reduce the majority of patch-test reactions; intolerance to ZnSO4 was not observed. The study showed that ZnSO4 therapy is efficacious and safe.http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/753985_5
Bromelain
Bromelain is used for reducing swelling (inflammation), especially of the nose and sinuses, after surgery or injury. It is also used for hay fever, treating a bowel condition that includes swelling and ulcers (ulcerative colitis), removing dead and damaged tissue after a burn (debridement), preventing the collection of water in the lung (pulmonary edema), relaxing muscles, stimulating muscle contractions, slowing clotting, improving the absorption of antibiotics, preventing cancer, shortening labor, and helping the body get rid of fat.https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/895.html
Probiotics
Treating pregnant mothers, and then their infants, with select strains of probiotics -- bacteria present naturally in the body and sometimes added to food or dietary supplements to boost immune function -- may help prevent a skin condition known as eczema in children with a family history of allergies, particularly during the first 3 months of life, Dutch researchers report.http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/10/09/us-probiotics-skin-idUSTRE5985G520091009
In 2003 a study of over 100 children from families with a history of eczema also found a benefit from probiotic supplementation, and just last year a study noted that daily supplements of probiotic foods may reduce the risk of eczema in children by 58 percent.http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/11/11/probiotics
Fish Oil
According to Mother Earth News,9 a German study published in the journal Allergy found people who have diets rich in of omega-3 fatty acids suffer from fewer allergy symptoms. A second study10 in Sweden found that children who regularly ate fish prior to age one had much lower allergies by age four. My favorite sources of omega-3 fatty acids are grass fed meat and eggs, and krill oil.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/04/18/allergy-season.aspx
Quercetin
Quercetin is an antioxidant that belongs to a class of water-soluble plant substances called flavonoids. Although research is sketchy, many believe quercetin-rich foods (such as apples, berries, red grapes, red onions, capers and black tea) prevent histamine release—so they are "natural antihistamines." Quercetin is also available in supplement form—a typical dose for hay fever is between 200 and 400 mg per day.http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/04/18/allergy-season.aspx
I thought this was interesting side information:
Patients that are allergic to nickel may also be allergic to palladium, cobalt, and aluminum.http://www.clarksnutrition.com/
So I feel like I've got a great start to understanding which supplements and vitamins are going to help my Nickel and Iron Oxide Allergies. Most Nickel Allergy sufferers will be reasonably safe in taking the general supplements listed.
In the case of my Iron Oxide Allergy, I still am not convinced that Iron supplements are a safe way for me to go. For now, I will avoid that particular supplement.
Have you found some other supplements that help with Nickel Allergy? I would love to hear about your findings!
Until Next Time........
