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Erythropoietic effects of low‐dose cobalt application
Author(s) -
Hoffmeister Torben,
Schwenke Dirk,
Wachsmuth Nadine,
Krug Oliver,
Thevis Mario,
Byrnes William C.,
Schmidt Walter F.J.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
drug testing and analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.065
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1942-7611
pISSN - 1942-7603
DOI - 10.1002/dta.2478
Subject(s) - dose , urine , placebo , erythropoiesis , erythropoietin , medicine , oral administration , ingestion , endocrinology , anemia , alternative medicine , pathology
Cobaltous ions (Co 2+ ) stabilize HIFα, increase endogenous erythropoietin (EPO) production, and may, therefore, be used as a performance‐enhancing substance. To date, the dosage necessary to stimulate erythropoiesis is unknown. The aim of this study was, therefore, to determine the minimum dosage necessary to increase erythropoietic processes. In a first double‐blind placebo‐controlled study ( n = 5), single oral Co 2+ dosages of 5 mg ( n = 6) and 10 mg ( n = 7) were administered to healthy young men. Cubital venous blood and urine samples were collected before and up to 24 hours after Co 2+ administration. In a second study, the same daily Co 2+ dosages were administered for five days (placebo: n = 5, 5 mg: n = 9, 10 mg: n = 7). Blood and urine samples were taken the day before administration and at day 3 and day 5. Plasma [EPO] was elevated by 20.5 ± 16.9% at 5 hours after the single 5‐mg administration ( p < 0.05) and by 52.8 ± 23.5% up to 7 hours following the 10‐mg Co 2+ administration ( p < 0.001). Urine [Co 2+ ] transiently increased, with maximum values 3–5 hours after Co 2+ ingestion (5 mg: from 0.8 ± 1.1 to 153.6 ± 109.4 ng/mL, 10 mg: from 1.3 ± 1.7 to 338.0 ± 231,5 ng/mL). During the five days of Co 2+ application, 5 mg showed a strong tendency to increase [EPO], while the 10‐mg application significantly increased [EPO] at day 5 by 27.2 ± 26.4% ( p < 0.05) and the immature reticulocyte fraction by 49.9 ± 21.7% ( p < 0.01). [Ferritin] was decreased by 12.4 ± 10.4 ng/mL ( p < 0.05). An oral Co 2+ dosage of 10 mg/day exerts clear erythropoietic effects, and 5 mg/day tended to increase plasma EPO concentration.