Replies to In 2014, I had my left hip replaced with a titanium hip joint. My blood cobalt…

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Bones, Joints & Muscles | Last Active: Feb 28 5:47pm | Replies (36)

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@tabbiecat4547

In 2014, I had my left hip replaced with a titanium hip joint. My blood cobalt level is now 4.4. How much can diet affect this level. I assume that I would have to consume a whole lot of vegetables to raise my blood level.

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Replies to "In 2014, I had my left hip replaced with a titanium hip joint. My blood cobalt..."

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Feb 28 5:47pm

Welcome to Mayo Connect. If you have read a bit, here and elsewhere, you will have seenthat the major concerns are with metal-on-metal (MoM) hip implants, which were chromium-cobalt balls and acetabular cups (without cross-linked polymer linings) used largely between 2000 & 2010.
You can read about them here:
https://josr-online.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13018-023-03618-7
While there is currently some concern about metal ions from other types of hip implants, levels like yours fall into the range generally considered safe. I believe monitoring is recommended to be sure they are not rising, as this would be evidence of premature metal wear.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7842236/#
Do you know exactly what implant you received, and what is the composition of the femur head and the acetabular lining?
Sue

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