Nickel is distributed throughout the body without particular concentration in any tissue and does not accumulate with age in a particular tissue or organ other than the lungs.
Small amounts of nickel are useful in certain bodily functions. For example, minute amount of nickel are important in DNA and RNA stabilization of nucleic acid. It may help to maintain their structure.
Nickel may play a role in the metabolism of glucose and hormonal functions.
It helps to activate certain important enzymes, such as trypsin, carboxylase and arginase.
The production of prolactin, a hormone that stimulates milk production during pregnancy , may require nickel.
The highest concentrations of nickels are found in the thyroid and adrenal glands as well as in hair, bone and soft tissues such as the lungs, heart, kidneys and liver.
Functions of Nickel
