Molybdenum

In our body the essential nutrient molybdenum is only present in trace amounts.

The molybdenum cofactor molecule is the structure in which almost all molybdenum-containing enzymes (molybdoenzymes) work.

Molybdenum has a role in the metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids (methionine and cysteine), in the breakdown of nucleotides (precursors for DNA and RNA) to uric acid, and in the metabolism of drugs and toxins.

Sources

Good sources of molybdenum are pork, lamb and beef liver, eggs, beans, lentils, peas, sunflower seeds, cucumbers, and grain products.

Daily intake

The average daily intake of molybdenum varies between 120 and 240 micrograms, depending on the molybdenum content of the food.

The recommended daily intake for adults is only 45 micrograms.

The tolerable upper level of intake for adults is 2000 micrograms per day.

Deficiency

Dietary molybdenum deficiency has never been observed in healthy people.

Excess

Acute toxicity has not been seen in humans.

Animal studies have indicated that chronic ingestion of more than 10000 micrograms per day of molybdenum can cause diarrhea, growth retardation, infertility, low birth weight and gout. It may also affect the lungs, kidneys and liver.

References: 1 , 2