Cobalt
COBALT is a word derived from the German kobold meaning "goblin" or "mischievous spirit." The term originated in the 16th century when arsenic-containing cobalt ores were dug up in the silver mines of the Harz Mountains. Believing that these ores contained copper, miners heated them and were injured by the toxic arsenic trioxide vapors that were released. These "evils" were then attributed to the goblin or kobold. George Brandt was the Swedish chemist who first isolated the element in 1742, although cobalt had been used for centuries as the blue color in decorative glass and pottery.
The discovery in 1948 that Vitamin B12 contains 4% cobalt proved this element was essential to man although it was known to be essential for ruminant animals much earlier. By 1935, Australian scientists discovered that a lack of cobalt, from deficiencies in the soil, produced a wasting disease in animals. For centuries, stockmen, in various parts of the world, without knowing why, had practised rotation of grazing lands to prevent such occurrences. Today, cobalt salts are often added to animal feed to ensure that they produce adequate Vitamin B12 in their tissue.
Cobalt is considered an essential element since the body cannot manufacture it. It is readily absorbed in the small intestine, but the retained cobalt serves no physiological function since human tissues cannot synthesize B12. It can only be synthesized by E. coli in the intestine. However, enough cannot be made to meet human requirements so very little is absorbed past the small intestine. Most of the consumed cobalt is excreted in the urine with very little being retained and then, mainly in the liver and kidneys. Cobalt's only known function is its integral part of Vitamin B12. A cobalt deficiency has never been produced in humans. Signs and symptoms of one are actually those of a B12 deficiency. Interestingly, recent studies show that cobalt may be linked with iodine in the formation of thyroid hormones.
Much of the cobalt used today is found in paints and glazes with some reserved for cancer treatments. Excesive amounts can cause anorexia, nausea and vomiting, goiter, as well as heart/nerve/kidney damage.
Names include: Co, Co+2, Co++, Co+3, Co+++, and element 27.
Deficiency symptoms usually include those of a Vitamin B12 deficiency.
Toxicity symptoms include: decreased cardiac output, cardiac and thyroid enlargements, and heart disease. Other signs include: elevated red blood cells (polycythemia) accompanied by increased cells in the bone marrow, increased blood volume, and vasodilation and flushing. In order for this to happen, an intake of 250 mg/kg of body weight must have been ingested for a period of time.
Note: Cobalt toxicity is suspected to be the cause of some cardiac failures in heavy beer drinkers because it was added to beer to improve its foaming qualities. High alcohol consumption along with 8 mg. per day of cobalt is enough to induce cardiomyopathy (a condition where the heart enlarges accompanied by low cardiac output).
Inhibitors include: acids, alkalis, water, sunlight, alcohol, estrogen, sleeping pills, neomycin, methotrexate, cholestyramine, colchicine, sodium aminosalicylate, slow releaseing potassium chloride, metaformin, phenoformin, sodium, nitroprusside, chloramphenicol, codeine, oral anti-diabetic agents, aspirin and substitutes, and hydralazine.
Helpers include: copper, iron, zinc.
