Deficiency cobalt

Cobalt is one of twenty-seven known elements essential to humans (28) (see Mineral NUTRIENTS). It is an integral part of the cyanocobalamin [68-19-9] molecule, ie, vitamin B 2> only documented biochemically active cobalt component in humans (29,30) (see Vitamins, VITAMIN Vitamin B 2 is not synthesized by animals or higher plants, rather the primary source is bacterial flora in the digestive system of sheep and cattle (8). Except for humans, nonmminants do not appear to requite cobalt. Humans have between 2 and 5 mg of vitamin B22, and deficiency results in the development of pernicious anemia. The wasting disease in sheep and cattle is known as bush sickness in New Zealand, salt sickness in Florida, pine sickness in Scotland, and coast disease in AustraUa. These are essentially the same symptomatically, and are caused by cobalt deficiency. Symptoms include initial lack of appetite followed by scaliness of skin, lack of coordination, loss of flesh, pale mucous membranes, and retarded growth. The total laboratory synthesis of vitamin B 2 was completed in 65—70 steps over a period of eleven years (31). The complex stmcture was reported by Dorothy Crowfoot-Hodgkin in 1961 (32) for which she was awarded a Nobel prize in 1964. 

Agriculture ndNutrition. Cobalt salts, soluble in water or stomach acid, are added to soils and animal feeds to correct cobalt deficiencies. In soil apphcation the cobalt is readily assimilated into the plants and subsequendy made available to the animals (56). Plants do not seem to be affected by the cobalt uptake from the soil. Cobalt salts are also added to salt blocks or pellets (see Feeds and feed additives). 

In the United States, the lower Atlantic Costal Plain is a region with low soil Co, producing less than 0.07 mg/kg in legumes. Cobalt deficiency in animals has not been reported in the rest of the U.S. 

Co deficit Everywhere Low content of Co in Podsoluvisols, Podzols, Arenosols and Histosols. The average Co content in plant species is < 5 ppb The decrease of Co content in tissues decrease of vitamin BJ2 in liver (tr.—130 ppm), in tissue (tr.—0.05 ppm), in milk (tr.—3 ppm). Synthesis of vitamin Bi2 and protein is weakened. Cobalt-deficiency and Bj2 vitamin-deficiency. The number of animal diseases is decreasing in raw sheep —cattle — pigs and horses. Low meat and wool productivity and reproduction... 

Cu + Co deficit Especially in Swamp ecosystems Low content of Cu and Co in Podsoluvisols, Podzols, Arenosols and Histosols. Declining contents of Cu and Co in forage species (Cu from 3 to 0.7 ppm, Co < 5 ppb) Depressed synthesis of BJ2 vitamin and oxidation ferments. Cobalt-deficiency and B12 vitamin-deficiency complicated by Cu deficiency. The prevalent diseases of sheep and cattle... 

I, Co, Cu deficit Various mountain regions Carpathian, Caucasian, Crimea, Tien-Shan, etc Mountain soils Endemic increase of thyroid gland and endemic goiter, Cobalt-deficiency and B12 vitamin-deficiency... 

The need to include a variety of minerals in experimental diets has already been mentioned this was especially stressed (1920-1930) by Boyd-Orr, the director of the Rowett Institute for Animal Nutrition in Scotland. Increasingly refined food sources led to the identification of large numbers of trace elements (e.g., Cu, Mn, Mo, Zn) whose importance in the diet was suggested from hydroponic experiments with plant seedlings. Cobalt is an example of such a trace element. Vitamin Bj2 is synthesized by bacteria in the rumens of sheep and cattle but is absent from their fodder. In Australia, sheep feeding on cobalt-deficient pastures failed to thrive because vitamin B12 could no longer be made. 

The human body contains only about 1.5 mg of cobalt, almost all of it is in the form of cobalamin, vitamin B12. Ruminant animals, such as cattle and sheep, have a relatively high nutritional need for cobalt and in regions with a low soil cobalt content, such as Australia, cobalt deficiency in these animals is a serious problem. This need for cobalt largely reflects the high requirement of the microorganisms of the rumen (paunch) for vitamin B12. All bacteria require vitamin B12 but not all are able to synthesize it. For example, E. coli lacks one enzyme in the biosynthetic... 

Cohall is present in vitamin Bi to Ihe extent of about 4ci-. Lack of cobalt in tlie soil and feedstuffs prevents tuniinants from synthesizing all of the vilamin B j for their needs. Thus, cobalt can be added to feedstuffs as the chloride, sulfate, oxide, nr carbonate. Excessive cobalt intakes are toxic, causing a reduction in feed intake and body weight, accompanied by emaciation, anemia, debility, and elevated levels of cobull in the liver. It is of interest to note that clinical coball tnxiciiy closely resembles clinical cobalt deficiency. 

Adding cobalt to soils, either as cobalt sulfate, or as cobaltized superphosphate, can be used to increase the level of cobalt is plants and prevent cobalt deficiency in cattle and sheep. Cobalt fertilization may not be effective in prcvenling cobalt deficiency on alkaline soils because in these soils, the added cobalt quickly reverses to forms lhal arc not taken up by plants. Coball fertilization is more common in Australia than in the United Slates. In Ihe United Slates, eoball is usually added lo mixed feeds, mineral mixes, or salt licks... 

Factors which tend to decrease the availability of this vitamin include (1) cooking losses, since the vitamin is heat labile (2) cobalt deficiency in ruminants (3) intestinal malabsorption or parasites (4) lack of intrinsic factor (5) intestinal disease (6) aging (7) vegetarian diet (8) excretion... 

Ruminant animals obtain their B12 from bacterial synthesis that takes place in the rumen. As a result, these animals may suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency when they are grazed on cobalt-deficient pastures because the rumen bacteria will be unable to produce the vitamin. 

Answer One of the enzymes necessary for the conversion of propionate to oxaloacetate is methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (see Fig. 17-11). This enzyme requires as an essential cofactor the cobalt-containing coenzyme B12, which is synthesized from vitamin B12. A cobalt deficiency in animals would result in coenzyme B12 deficiency. 

Essential for the formation of vitamin B12 and synthesis of red blood cells. Without it pernicious anaemia follows. Not found in vegetables but it is present in milk, eggs, cheese, meat and liver. Vegetarians must be aware of their possible cobalt deficiency and remedy this... 

Lon anemia (Fe deficiency) in humans is common, but is due to low availability to plants rather than low amounts in the soil. Molybdenum deficiency, which prevents microbial nitrogen fixation, and cobalt deficiency in Australian sheep that prevents rumen bacteria from synthesizing vitamin B12, have been reported in Australia. Phosphate deficiency that led to weak bones in grazing animals was reported in Norway. 

Stangl GI, Schwarz FJ, Jahn B and Kirchgess-ner M (2000) Cobalt deficiency-induced hyperho-mocysteinaemia and oxidative status of cattle. Br J Nutr 83 3-6. 

New Zealand, Kenya, Russia, Florida, and in Germany s Black Forest, giving rise to cobalt deficiency syndromes in farm animals. To protect sheep and cattle in Co-deficient regions, 1 - 2 kg of cobalt sulfate must be added per hectare every 3-5 years. A soil is regarded as Co-deficient if the cobalt level is below 5 mg kg dry matter only about 6% of the total cobalt present is bioa-vailable (Young 1979). For a description of the role of cobalt in animal nutrition, see Suttle (1999). 

Ruminants require cobalt for the bacterial biosynthesis of vitamin B12 in the first stomach. Cobalt-deficient sheep or cattle show diminished feed intakes and weight loss. In cows, milk production declines and the fre-... 

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