Cobalt and Red Blood Cells: What You Need to Know

# Cobalt and Red Blood Cells: What You Need to Know

## Summary

Definition:Cobalt is a trace element that occurs naturally in the environment and is biologically important mainly as the central metal in vitamin B12 (cobalamin).Key point:In human nutrition you do not take “elemental cobalt” directly; you get it as part of vitamin B12 molecules in food or supplements. Main role:Cobalt, as part of vitamin B12, supports healthy red blood cell formation and proper DNA synthesis.Neurological role:Cobalt via B12is required for myelin maintenance and normal nerve function.Metabolic role:Cobalt via B12acts as a cofactor in two critical enzymes methionine synthase and methylmalonyl-CoA mutase involved in methylation reactions and energy metabolism.

## Benefits

Mechanism:Dietary vitamin B12 is bound to food proteins and must be released by stomach acid and enzymes, bind to intrinsic factor, and then be absorbed in the terminal ileum by a receptor-mediated process.Alternate absorption:High-dose oral B12can be absorbed passively (small percent) even when intrinsic factor is absent.Distribution and clearance:After absorption, cobalamin circulates bound to transport proteins and is taken up by tissues; excess is excreted in urine.

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