Possible Interaction: Cobalt and Nitrous Oxide

“We believe that the adhesion prevention property of N2O is possibly related to its well-known side effects: N2O oxidizes the cobalt atoms of the vitamin B12, inactivating the methionine synthase and causing a dose-dependent increase in plasma homocysteine (Hcys) concentrations.”

“ Nitrous oxide causes permanent oxidation of cobalt ions in vitamin B12 inhibiting this conversion and decreasing availability of functional vitamin B12, although measured vitamin B12 levels may not reflect this functional deficiency, particularly in adolescents.”

“First, N2O irreversibly oxidizes the cobalt ion within cobalamin, leaving vitamin B12 inactive and inducing neurologic impairment [2,3] through the inhibition of methionine synthase”

“ Nitrous oxide irreversibly oxidizes the cobalt ion within cobalamin and targets the dynorphin/kappa opioid receptor system, and this particular subtype has been implicated in both feeding behavior and metabolic activities.”

“ Nitrous oxide irreversibly oxidizes the cobalt atom of vitamin B12, inhibiting the cobalamin-dependent enzyme methionine synthase, which has a key role in many biochemical reactions that involve the nervous system.”

“This confirmed the earlier work of Banks et al. [10] who showed that nitrous oxide converts the cobalt in vitamin B12 from the monovalent form to the bivalent form and thus inactivates it.”

“I This occurs because nitrous oxide causes irreversible oxidation of cobalt and active vitamin BI 2 requires cobalt in its reduced form.”

“I This occurs because nitrous oxide causes irreversible oxidation of cobalt and active vitamin BI 2 requires cobalt in its reduced form.”

“Uncommonly suspected causes of B12 deficiency include the abuse of recreational nitrous oxide (NO) given its interference with cobalt oxidation.”

“ Nitrous oxide use can also lead to hyperhomocysteinemia by irreversibly oxidizing the cobalt atom of vitamin B12, which results in an inhibition of the enzyme methionine synthase.”