Cobalt deficiency symptoms - Cobalt deficiency diseases

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What is cobalt? Cobalt is an essential trace element. Cobalt is a constituent of vitamin B12 (cobalamin).

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Its deficiency, essentially the insufficiency of vitamin B12, can cause several disease symptoms, including pernicious anemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, neuropsychiatric manifestations and goiter. The Co atom in cobalamin is attached and surrounded to a deoxyadenosyl group, methyl group, and a cyano group or hydroxyl group.

Cobalt in food

Cobalt as cobalamin is essential for several body functions. Co in its salt forms as Cobalt chloride (CoCl2), nitrate (Co(NO3)2), carbonate (CoCO3) or sulfate (CoSO4) is required for vitamin B12 (cobalamin) synthesis by bacteria. The cobalamin synthesis by bacteria actively takes place in the rumen of ruminants. In other non-ruminant herbivores and humans, cobalamin is synthesized by bacteria in the colon.

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Very small quantities of vitamin B12 is absorbed in the colon and some animals resort to ingesting feces to obtain the nutrient. Carnivores and humans have to obtain the vitamin pre-made in ruminants by eating animal products. Just ingesting the mineral salts will not cure the cobalamin insufficiency. Most of the animal sources of food, including shellfish, organ meat, yeast, fish, poultry and milk products are rich in vitamin B12.

Cobalt benefits and functions

• Cobalt is essential for normal thyroid function.
• It is found to be essential for the normal development of child's body and the function of the cardiovascular system.
• It influences DNA synthesis.
• Co stimulates erythrocytes production.
• Co influences maturation of erythroid stem cells and haemoglobin synthesis.
• It helps with repair of the myelin sheath.

Cobalt and physical development

Analysis of hair cobalt content, pointed towards high incidence of its deficiency (89%) in elementary school children of the Republic of Tatarstan. Svyatova NV et al. in their 2013 study found that there was significant correlations between physical development and cardiovascular system with hair Co content. They concluded that, "positive balance of cobalt is essential for normal growth and development of child's body and function of the cardiovascular system."

The role of cobalt in iron-deficiency anemia

Maria Georgieva Angelova et al. on their study on iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) found that the cobalt mean serum concentration were significantly lower in children with IDA than healthy controls. Co plays an important role in the processes of erythropoiesis by stimulating erythrocytes production by activation of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α).

Cobalt deficiency causes

A cobalt insufficiency is ultimately also a vitamin B12 insufficiency. Co inadequacy arises due to several causes. Poor dietary intake of vitamin B12, malabsorption, severe malnutrition, protein energy malnutrition, vegan lifestyle, certain intestinal disorders and certain medications can cause the inadequacy of this nutrient.

Cobalt deficiency symptoms

Cobalamin insufficiency can give rise to severe symptoms and cause irreversible damage to the brain and nervous system. Low levels of vitamin B12 in the blood serum can give rise to symptoms like glossitis, fatigue, depression and poor memory. As the conditions progresses, symptoms like polyneuropathy, cognitive deficits, reduced immune function, pernicious anemia and hyperhomocisteinemia will appear.

Cobalt deficiency and goiter

The study conducted by Mojgan Sanjari et al. in 2014 on endemic goiter in the city of Herman (Iran), established that apart from iodine, the endemic Cobalt deficiency had lead to symptoms of goiter in school-aged children. Even decades after iodine deficiency control program was initiated in 1989 by iodizing salt, the incidence of goiter has remained an endemic condition in most parts of Iran. Studies revealed that goitrous children when compared to non-goitrous children, had lower serum Co levels. The authors concluded that, "Cobalt deficiency may be an important independent predictor for goiter in endemic regions, especially areas in which goiters persist despite salt iodization programs." The cobalt deficiency and its symptoms are treated by vitamin B12 replacement therapy.

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References: 1.Sanjari M, Gholamhoseinian A, Nakhaee A. The Association between Cobalt Deficiency and Endemic Goiter in School-Aged Children. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul). 2014 Sep;29(3):307-11. 2.Svyatova NV, Sitdikov FG, Egerev ES. Effect of cobalt on parameters of the cardiovascular system in elementary school children. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2013 Jul;155(3):312-3. 3.Maria Georgieva Angelova, Tsvetelina Valentinova Petkova-Marinova, Maksym Vladimirovich Pogorielov, Andrii Nikolaevich Loboda, Vania Nedkova Nedkova-Kolarova, Atanaska Naumova Bozhinova. Trace Element Status (Iron, Zinc, Copper, Chromium, Cobalt, and Nickel) in Iron-Deficiency Anaemia of Children under 3 Years. Anemia. 2014; 2014: 718089.

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Current topic on nutrition: Cobalt deficiency symptoms and diseases.

Jul 31, 2015

Cobalt

In healthcare, cobalt as a trace mineral is a vital element in the production of a very essential vitamin cobalamin (vitamin B₁₂). Itt is a component of the vitamin B₁₂ molecule.
Nerve cells are surrounded and insulated by myelin layer and cobalt is necessary for the formation of myelin and its repair.
This cobalt containing vitamin helps the production of red blood corpuscles.
The protein synthesis is achieved with the help of cobalamin.
Carbohydrate and fat metabolisms are controlled by cobalamin.
In treating certain infections and anemia, cobalt has been found to be effective.
This mineral is also found to stimulate and regulate certain enzymes.
Cobalt deficiency is B₁₂ deficiency.
Its deficiency on the long run can cause loss of myelin from nerve cells.
The white blood cells and blood platelets numbers get reduced.
The enlargement of red blood cells is also noticed in deficiency.
If the deficiency is continued for long time the damaging changes become irreversible especially of the nervous system.
Cobalt can cause toxicity in excess while supplemented.
The symptoms may include asthma, anxiety and general weakness.
Cardiac symptoms like chest pain and pain running down the shoulder to arms may be experienced.
The solution is immediate withdrawal of B₁₂ supplementation.
Cobalt is available in our diet from animal sources like sea foods, organ meat, eggs, dairy products and poultry products.
Cobalamin is also synthesized by gut bacteria.

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