Cobalt Deficiency
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While cobalt is necessary for optimal health, there have never been any cobalt deficiencies reported.
The only people who could be at risk of deficiency:
- Strict vegetarians or vegans
Meats and meat products are the only foods with high levels of cobalt, with plant foods having lower levels of cobalt. This means that some people who are on a strict vegetarian or vegan diet could become deficient in cobalt if they do not get sufficient amounts of both cobalt and vitamin B12 (cobalamin) from the plant foods in their diet. - People with eating disorders
People with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia are either not consuming enough food in the first place, or the food they are consuming is being expelled too quickly after meals through induced vomiting so the nutrients (including cobalt) are not being absorbed. - People with recent severe burns or injuries
People who have recently experienced severe burns or major injuries to their body may need be deficient in cobalt (and vitamin B12) because their body is using up much of it to help heal the wounds sustained in the burns or injuries. The injuries are in need of more oxygen supply and platelets (to help clot the blood and stimulate healing) and all the reserves of cobalt are used up to make more vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and more may be required to aid in quicker healing.
While cobalt is necessary for optimal health, there have never been any cobalt deficiencies reported
Cobalt Deficiency Symptoms
If cobalt deficiency did occur, it would cause a deficiency of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) - cobalt is needed to help the body metabolise vitamin B12 (cobalamin) - this would result in pernicious anaemia.
The symptoms of pernicious anaemia include:
- Bleeding gums
- Confusion, headache and poor memory
- Difficulty maintaining balance
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Pale gums, lips, tongue
- Nausea, appetite loss, weight loss
- Sore tongue
- Weakness and tingling in the arms and legs
- Weight loss
People with any of these symptoms should seek advice from their medical practitioner to determine if cobalt supplementation is warranted in their individual situation.