Cobalt is associated with

Cobalt is an essential trace element primarily associated with Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin [2]. The core structure of Vitamin B12 consists of a corrin macrocycle that acts as the main ligand for a central cobalt ion [1]. In humans, the biological requirement for cobalt is fulfilled exclusively through the ingestion of Vitamin B12, as the human body cannot synthesize the vitamin from elemental cobalt [2]. Vitamin B12 is crucial for proper physiological functioning, including the synthesis of amino acids and the production of neurotransmitters. While cobalt has historically been used to treat anemia by promoting erythropoiesis (red blood cell production), it is not a structural component of hemoglobin itself, which uses iron [3]. Additionally, while cobalt deficiency can indirectly affect growth and certain enzyme activities, its fundamental biochemical association in the human body is as the central metal atom of Vitamin B12 [4].

Sources

1. [2] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10604320/
2. [1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7689651/
3. [3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK587403/
4. [4] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/cobalt