Molybdenum

About Molybdenum

Molybdenum is an essential trace mineral that forms part of the molybdenum cofactor required by four human enzymes: sulfite oxidase, xanthine oxidase, aldehyde oxidase and mitochondrial amidoxime reducing component mARC. These enzymes break down sulfur amino acids, convert purines to uric acid and metabolize drugs and toxins. In the body molybdenum is concentrated in the liver, kidneys and bone. Legumes are the richest food source, followed by whole grains, nuts and dairy, and the content of plant foods depends strongly on the soil. Absorption is efficient and excess is excreted mainly in urine. Official intake recommendations exist, and ordinary diets usually exceed them. Dietary deficiency has not been reported in healthy people, but patients on long term parenteral nutrition without molybdenum developed rapid heart rate, headache, night blindness and coma that resolved with ammonium molybdate. Inherited sulfite oxidase deficiency causes severe brain damage. High intake can increase copper excretion, and in livestock causes molybdenosis, a form of copper deficiency.