Modern aspects of regulatory, pathophysiological and toxic effects of cobalt ions during oral intake in the human body

Abstract

Cobalt is an essential microelement which is an indispensable part of several enzymes and co-enzymes. Cobalt ions may occur in the environment from both natural sources and due to human activities. This metal is very widespread in the natural environment and can be formed due to anthropogenic activity. Toxic effects produced by cobalt and its compounds depend on the physical and chemical properties of these complexes, including their electronic structure, ion parameters (charge-size relations) and kinetics. Cobalt has both beneficial and harmful effects on human health. Cobalt is beneficial for humans because it is a part of vitamin B12, which is essential to maintain human health. If humans and animals are exposed to levels of cobalt normally found in the environment, it is not harmful. When excessive cobalt amounts enter a human body, multiple and chronic harmful health effects can occur and the longer the cobalt ions are stored in the body, the more changes they cause in cells. Cobalt gets into a body via several ways: mainly with food, via the respiratory system, through the skin or as a component of various biomaterials. Despite this metal being abundant, much of our knowledge on cobalt toxicity is based mainly on studies performed on animals. Undoubtedly, inorganic forms of cobalt are toxic as they accumulate in various tissues and can evoke a chain of pathological cascade changes in cells. Although some cobalt effects might be beneficial for medicine. Therefore, the purpose of our review is to provide the current analysis about the most significant regulatory, pathophysiological and epigenetic effects of Co2+ in a human body.