Cobalt Drug Interactions, Uses, Safety & More

Cobalt is a naturally occurring chemical element and a metal found in rocks, soil, water, and some foods. It is best known as the central atom in vitamin B12 (also called cobalamin), which your body needs to make red blood cells and keep nerves healthy.

Your body does not have a separate need for plain (inorganic) cobalt by itself. The only known nutritional role of cobalt is as part of vitamin B12. Bacteria in nature use cobalt to build B12, and humans get that B12 mainly from animal foods like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy.

In the past, cobalt salts were sometimes used in medicine and even added to beer as a foam stabilizer. Those uses caused harm and were stopped. Today, standalone cobalt supplements are uncommon and are generally discouraged by health authorities.

People sometimes see cobalt marketed for energy, anemia, or athletic performance. The honest summary is that there is no good evidence that taking inorganic cobalt supplements helps with any of these.

Historically, cobalt salts were tried to treat certain anemias because cobalt can stimulate the body to make more red blood cells. However, this came with serious toxic effects, so this use was abandoned in favor of safer treatments.

The only well-established benefit linked to cobalt is through vitamin B12. If you are low in B12, taking B12 (which contains cobalt) can help — but that benefit comes from the B12 molecule, not from swallowing plain cobalt. For nearly all popular supplement uses of cobalt itself, the evidence is either absent or shows more risk than benefit.

Cobalt's main biological role is being the center of the vitamin B12 molecule. In that form, it helps your body produce healthy red blood cells and supports the nervous system and DNA production.

As a free metal, cobalt can mimic low-oxygen conditions in cells. This can trick the body into making more of a hormone called erythropoietin, which boosts red blood cell production. While this sounds helpful, the same activity is tied to harmful effects on the heart, thyroid, and other organs. Much of what we know about cobalt's effects comes from laboratory studies, animal studies, and reports of toxicity in people exposed to too much.

Because the body cannot make B12 from inorganic cobalt on its own, taking plain cobalt does not reliably raise vitamin B12 levels.

Inorganic cobalt supplements are not considered safe for routine use. Too much cobalt can damage the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy), affect the thyroid, cause hearing or vision problems, and lead to changes in blood counts.

People with heart disease, thyroid disease, or kidney problems should be especially cautious and should avoid cobalt supplements. Concerns about cobalt exposure have also come up with certain metal-on-metal hip implants, which can release cobalt into the body over time.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Avoid cobalt supplements. There is not enough safety data, and toxicity is a real concern. If you need cobalt for nutrition, get it as vitamin B12 from food or a B12 supplement, and talk with your doctor or pharmacist about the right choice for you.

At high or repeated doses, cobalt can cause serious problems, including heart damage, an enlarged thyroid (goiter) or thyroid dysfunction, nerve damage, and hearing or vision loss. It can also overstimulate red blood cell production.

Other reported effects include nausea, stomach upset, and skin reactions in people sensitive to cobalt. Some people develop skin allergies to cobalt found in metals and jewelry.

Because cobalt can build up and harm organs over time, any unexplained symptoms in someone taking cobalt — such as shortness of breath, swelling, fatigue, or changes in vision or hearing — should be checked by a healthcare provider promptly.

There is no established safe or beneficial dose of inorganic cobalt as a dietary supplement, and health professionals generally do not recommend taking it.

The cobalt your body actually needs is supplied through vitamin B12. For B12, follow the dose on the product label or your doctor's advice. If you think you need more cobalt or B12, talk with a pharmacist or doctor rather than starting a standalone cobalt product.

Never take cobalt salts in an attempt to boost energy or athletic performance — this can be dangerous.