Introduction: Over the last decade, there has been an increased interest in the role of nickel as a cause of allergic reactions and as an element affecting the intestinal microbiota. Its presence can cause dysbiosis, i.e., an increase in the number of harmful microorganisms at the expense of probiotic bacteria. The disturbed microbiota affects the organism’s metabolism and increases the risk of developing certain diseases.
This study aims to analyze the available scientific literature on nickel and its effect on the disturbances in the intestinal microbiota.
Materials and methods: The PubMed database and the Cochrane Library were used to find scientific articles with the following combinations of keywords: ‘nickel’, ‘nickel and microbiota’, ‘nickel and allergy’, ‘nickel and health’, ‘microbiota’, and ‘microbiota disturbances’. Scientific publications from the last 20 years were analyzed.
Results: Nickel is an essential element for certain biochemical reactions that allow microorganisms (both beneficial and harmful) to grow and develop. Some strains of bacteria seem to have the ability to reduce the host’s exposure to this heavy metal. Excess nickel intake contributes to the disturbance of the proper composition of intestinal microflora, especially in patients diagnosed with systemic nickel allergy syndrome. This may have adverse health effects, possibly contributing to obesity.
Conclusions: The wide use of nickel in consumer products, as well as its widespread presence in water and food, increases the probability of human contact with this metal. Further research on the influence of nickel on the human body and its microbiota should be conducted.
