Cobalt

By: Mary Joy Ching

Trace Elements
• they are metallic or non-metallic
minerals
• also known as micronutrients and are
found only in minute quantities in the
body – yet they are vitally important.
• Ex.
• Iron
• Copper
• Zinc
Ultratrace Elements
• is a chemical element that normally
comprises less than one microgram
per gram of a given organism.
• Ex.
• Cobalt
• Chromium
• Fluoride
• Manganese
• Molybdenum
• Selenium
• Iodine
Cobalt
• a trace element mineral whose main
function is in vitamin B12
• is found in all cells but occurs in large
quantities in bone marrow where it is
required for the production of red blood
cells.
• it was thought that cobalt in humans was
found only as a constituent of vitamin B12
(cobalamin)
Cobalt
• It is an integral part of Vitamin B12
(cobalamin), which is necessary for myelin
formation
• an insulating layer found around nerves,
to supports red blood cell production,
and it is also essential for the
metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, the
synthesis of proteins, and the
conversion of folate to its active form.
• The average adult body contains:
• 2 to 5 mg of Vitamin B12
» usually found in the liver.
Vitamin B12
• is a water soluble vitamin with a key role in
the normal functioning of
– Brain
– Nervous system
– Erythropoiesis
• It is normally involved in the metabolism of
every cell of the body
• DNA regulation and synthesis
• Fatty acid synthesis
• Cyanocobalamin is an especially common
vitamer of the B-12 vitamin family.
• Famous among the vitamer family
Recommendation

• No RDA or Estimated Safe and

Adequate Daily Dietary Intake has
been set for cobalt.
Dietary Source
• Dietary sources of cobalt are the same as vitamin
B12, such as
– fermented foods where the bacteria produce
the vitamin
– Organ meats are the best source of vitamin
B12 (liver, kidney, heart, and pancreas),
– Seafood (clams, oysters)
– extra-lean beef
– Eggs
– Milk
– Yogurt
– Chicken
– Cheese
– miso (a fermented soybean product).
Clinical Manifestation
• Vitamin B12 deficiency is associated with
hematologic, neurologic, and psychiatric
manifestations
• common cause of
– Normochromic macrocytic Megaloblastic
anemia
– pancytopenia.
– Paresthesias
– Peripheral neuropathy
– Demyelination of corticospinal tract and
the dorsal column
Toxicity Characteristic
• Gastrointestinal
Function
• Cardiomyopathy

Reference Value

• 0.11 – 0.45 ug/ml

Others…
• Since the primary sources of vitamin
B12 in the diet are animal products

• vegetarians have a high risk of

developing B12 deficiency.

• Therefore, it is recommended to
supplement in order to prevent the
vitamin B12 deficiency.
• Intrinsic factor
– is a glycoprotein produced by the parietal cells of the stomach
. It is necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12
• Pernicious anemia
– is a form of megaloblastic anemia due to
vitamin B-12 deficiency, caused by impaired absorption of
vitamin B-12 due to the immune destruction of intrinsic factor
in the setting of atrophic gastritis, and more specifically of loss
of gastric parietal cells.
• Megaloblastic anemia
– is an anemia (of macrocytic classification) which results from
inhibition of DNA synthesis in red blood cell production.[1]
This is often due to deficiency of vitamin B12 and/or folic acid.
• Folic acid and folate
– are forms of the water-soluble vitamin B9, essential to
numerous bodily functions ranging from nucleotide
biosynthesis to the remethylation of homocysteine. It is
especially important during periods of rapid cell division and
growth.