High Prevalence of Nickel Allergy in an Overweight Female Population: A Microbial Metallomics Commentary Original paper
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
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Karen Pendergrass
Read MoreKaren Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease—four years before the first published case study.
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Dr. Umar
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Dr. Umar
Read MoreClinical Pharmacist and Clinical Pharmacy Master’s candidate focused on antibiotic stewardship, AI-driven pharmacy practice, and research that strengthens safe and effective medication use. Experience spans digital health research with Bloomsbury Health (London), pharmacovigilance in patient support programs, and behavioral approaches to mental health care. Published work includes studies on antibiotic use and awareness, AI applications in medicine, postpartum depression management, and patient safety reporting. Developer of an AI-based clinical decision support system designed to enhance antimicrobial stewardship and optimize therapeutic outcomes.
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Women’s Health
Women’s Health
Women’s health, a vital aspect of medical science, encompasses various conditions unique to women’s physiological makeup. Historically, women were often excluded from clinical research, leading to a gap in understanding the intricacies of women’s health needs. However, recent advancements have highlighted the significant role that the microbiome plays in these conditions, offering new insights and potential therapies. MicrobiomeSignatures.com is at the forefront of exploring the microbiome signature of each of these conditions to unravel the etiology of these diseases and develop targeted microbiome therapies.
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Microbial Metallomics
Microbial Metallomics
Microbial Metallomics is the study of how microorganisms acquire, use, regulate, and transform metals in any biological or environmental context.
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Low‑Nickel Diet (LNiD)
Low‑Nickel Diet (LNiD)
A low-nickel diet (LNiD) is a therapeutic dietary intervention that eliminates high-nickel foods, primarily plant-based sources such as legumes, nuts, whole grains, and cocoa, to reduce systemic nickel exposure. It is clinically validated for managing systemic nickel allergy syndrome (SNAS) and nickel-induced eczema. Its relevance is well-established in microbiome modulation, with studies demonstrating clinical benefits in conditions such as endometriosis, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and GERD.
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Karen Pendergrass
Read More -
Dr. Umar
Read More
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Read More -
Dr. Umar
ID
Dr. Umar
Read More
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Karen Pendergrass
What was studied?
This pilot observational analysis examined the high prevalence of nickel allergy in overweight adults and the potential impact of a low-nickel diet on body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. The focus keyphrase nickel allergy in overweight females appears directly in this section, as the study centers on metabolic and inflammatory profiles in individuals with elevated BMI who exhibit delayed hypersensitivity to nickel. Drawing from patch-test results, metabolic data, and dietary intervention outcomes, the investigators evaluated whether nickel-sensitive overweight subjects—especially women—display a distinctive clinical pattern. The study connects systemic nickel exposure not only to dermatologic and gastrointestinal symptoms but also to metabolic derangements and potential microbiome-related mechanisms, including the role of nickel-dependent bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori (page 6), which may promote inflammation and alter gut energy extraction.
Who was studied?
Eighty-seven overweight adults (BMI >26 kg/m²) were consecutively enrolled at an Italian Red Cross preventive health program. The population was predominantly female (72 of 87; 82.8%), enabling more detailed analysis in women. Laboratory, anthropometric, and metabolic assessments were collected for all participants, including liver enzymes, glucose, insulin, lipid profile, and HOMA-IR (page 4). Patch testing for nickel sulfate identified 45 nickel-allergic individuals, with the overwhelming majority being women (43 of 45). Among nickel-allergic participants, 43 women and 2 men initiated a low-nickel diet. Twenty-four women completed the 24-week follow-up, permitting analysis of longitudinal anthropometric outcomes.
Most important findings
In this cohort, nickel allergy appeared substantially more common in overweight women than in the general population, and higher still when metabolic syndrome and hepatic steatosis were present. Individuals adhering to a low-nickel diet demonstrated clinically relevant reductions in BMI, waist circumference, and body fat. Mechanistically, the study highlights intersecting inflammatory and microbiome pathways: IL-17–driven immune activity, menopausal immune shifts, and nickel-dependent bacteria such as H. pylori, which may collectively intensify metabolic dysfunction. The findings suggest that excess dietary nickel may amplify systemic inflammation and alter gut microbial composition, thereby contributing to obesity-associated phenotypes.
| Domain | Condensed Insight |
|---|---|
| Nickel allergy prevalence | Overweight women showed a 59.7% nickel allergy rate versus 12.5% in the general female population. Prevalence increased to 61.1% in those with metabolic syndrome and liver steatosis. |
| Anthropometric response to low-nickel diet | After 24 weeks, nickel-allergic overweight women experienced a mean BMI reduction of 4.2 ± 0.5 kg/m² and a waist decrease of 11.7 ± 0.6 cm, with parallel declines in body fat percentage. |
| Inflammatory mechanisms | Obesity and nickel allergy both upregulate IL-17; menopausal estrogen decline further enhances Th17 activity, potentially intensifying systemic inflammation in nickel-sensitive women. |
| Microbiome-related effects | Nickel supports growth of specific bacteria, including H. pylori. High dietary nickel may favor nickel-dependent gut microbes, promoting inflammation and metabolic imbalance; low-nickel diets may aid eradication. |
Key implications
This study suggests that nickel allergy may be substantially more common in overweight females than in the general population, and that reducing dietary nickel could meaningfully improve anthropometric outcomes in nickel-sensitive individuals. The combination of inflammatory pathways, estrogen-related shifts in IL-17 biology, and nickel-dependent microbial ecology positions nickel exposure as a possible modifiable factor in obesity and metabolic dysfunction. Although preliminary and limited by sample size and lack of control group, these findings imply that clinicians addressing unexplained weight gain, metabolic syndrome, gastrointestinal symptoms, or systemic inflammation—especially in perimenopausal women—may consider evaluating nickel sensitivity and dietary nickel intake.
Citation
Lusi EA, Di Ciommo VM, Patrissi T, Guarascio P. High prevalence of nickel allergy in an overweight female population: a pilot observational analysis.PLoS One. 2015;10(3):e0123265. file (4)