Molybdenum supplementation

In supplementation, it is preferable to use sodium molybdenum rather than other molybdenum salts, as it is the most bioavailable and safest mineral salt.

Foods with molybdenum

Pork, lamb, and beef livers each contain approximately 1.5 ppm of molybdenum. Other important dietary sources include peas, eggs, sunflower seeds, wheat flour, lentils and, in general, cereal seeds.

Foods with trace elements

The foods that contain the most trace elements (zinc, selenium, chromium, copper, manganese, and molybdenum):

• Nuts (all types).
• Wholegrain cereals.

Intake and deficiencies

Intake. Its concentration depends on external inputs. Average daily intake ranges from 0.12–0.24 mg, but this depends on the molybdenum content of the food in question (Coughlan 1983).

Molybdenum deficiency coexists with selenium deficiency.

Bibliography

• Barceloux, D. G. (1999). “Molybdenum.” J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 37(2): 231-237.
• Considine, G. D. (2005). Molybdenum. Van Nostrand’s Encyclopedia of Chemistry. D. Considine. New York, Wiley-Interscience: 1038-1040.
• Coughlan, M. P. (1983). “The role of molybdenum in human biology.” J Inherit Metab Dis 6 Suppl 1: 70-77.
• Curzon, M. E. J., J. Kubota, et al. (1971). “Environmental Effects of Molybdenum on Caries.” J Dent. Res. 50: 74-77.
• Emsley, J. (2001). Nature’s Building Blocks. Oxford, Oxford University Press: 262-266
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• Holleman, A. F. and E. Wiberg (2001). Inorganic chemistry, Academic Press: 1384.
• Kitamura, S., K. Sugihara, et al. (2006). “Drug-metabolizing ability of molybdenum hydroxylases.” Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 21(2): 83-98.
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• Nouri, M., H. Chalian, et al. (2008). “Nail molybdenum and zinc contents in populations with low and moderate incidence of esophageal cancer.” Arch Iran Med 11(4): 392-396.
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Reference values

NRV, AI, UL for molybdenum

The NRV is 50 µg. The AI for adults is 75–400 µg.

The UL is 0.6 mg.

Molybdenum has low toxicity. Excess molybdenum, and with it excess xantine oxidase, can lead to an accumulation of uric acid and degrade the bioavailability of copper.

Acute toxicity has not been observed in humans, although toxicity would depend on the chemical state of the metal. Although no data are available on human toxicity, studies with test animals have shown that chronic intake of more than 10 mg/day may cause diarrhea, growth retardation, infertility, low birth weight, and gout; it may also affect the lungs, kidneys, and liver (Coughlan 1983; Barceloux 1999).

NRV: Nutrient Reference Value. These are the daily amounts recommended for vitamins and minerals (micronutrients only) considered sufficient in the European Union to prevent a deficit in most healthy individuals in the population. They are the values used for labeling and claims.

PRI: Population Reference Intake. These are the reference values for a specific population group, defined as the amount of energy and/or nutrients (macronutrients and micronutrients) recommended to cover the nutritional needs of practically the entire population. They refer to healthy population groups. The values are expressed per person per day, as a 15-day average. To account for individual differences in digestive and metabolic processes, the PRI figure used for each nutrient is the average plus twice the standard deviation (except for energy, for which the average is used), thereby including almost all healthy individuals in the group (97.5%).

UL: Tolerable Upper Intake Level: the maximum level of total daily intake of a nutrient in a context of long-term or chronic consumption which does not pose a risk to health.