Cobalt Cautions
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General warnings and precautions
Certain people should only take cobalt supplements only if they have been advised to do so by a doctor and should be monitored during supplementation:
- Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should be able to get enough cobalt both for themselves and their child, from the foods in their diet, as only very small amounts of cobalt are required to maintain good health. - People with thyroid disorder
People with any type of thyroid disorder should be careful about taking cobalt supplements as excessive amounts of cobalt can enlarge the thyroid gland and decrease its functioning. - People with a heart condition
People with any type of heart disorder should be careful about taking cobalt supplements as excessive amounts of cobalt can enlarge the heart and lead to congestive heart failure. - Infants and young children
Cobalt toxicity can cause thyroid overgrowth (goitre) in infants and young children. - People who drink a lot of beer
Cobalt is sometimes used as a stabiliser in some beers, so over-consumption of beer for long periods can cause cobalt toxicity leading to heart disease and congestive
People with any type of thyroid disorder should be careful about taking cobalt supplements as excessive amounts of cobalt can enlarge the thyroid gland and decrease its functioning
Toxic Levels of Cobalt
Cobalt is toxic at doses greater than 20-30mg per day.
Overdosage and Toxicity Symptoms
Symptoms of cobalt toxicity include):
- Enlarged heart
- Enlarged thyroid gland
- Polycythemia - too many red blood cells
People who experience any of the above toxicity symptoms should discontinue their cobalt supplements immediately and call their doctor for advice.
Overdosage and toxicity is more likely to occur from taking too many supplements, whereas dietary intake of cobalt is highly unlikely to cause overdosage.