Molybdenum

Requirements:

• RDA:
  
  None
• Average Intake (in U.S.):
  
  75 - 110 mcg./day

Supplement Forms:

• Found in some vitamin/mineral supplements

Food Sources:

• Barley
• Brown rice
• Cantaloupe
• Green beans
• Green pea
• Lamb
• Lentils
• Split pea
• Squash

Signs and Symptoms of Deficiency:

• Very rare

Causes of Deficiency:

• Rare genetic defect - sulfite oxidase deficiency
• Total parenteral nutrition

Adverse Reactions and Toxicity:

• 10 - 15 mg./day may precipitate gout by raising uric acid levels

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• >500 mcg./day may increase copper excretion
• Competes with tungsten absorption

Biochemical Functions:

• Co-factor for oxidation-reduction reaction
• Co-factor for sulfite oxidase (oxidizes sulfite to sulfate and degradation of amino acids cysteine and methionine)
• Co-factor for xanthine oxidase dehydrogenase (enzyme used to metabolize xenobiotics and catabolism of purines)
• Co-factor for sulfotransferases (enzymes involved in detoxification pathways which conjugate compounds with sulfates to be excreted)
• Co-factor for aldehyde oxidase (involved in xenobiotic metabolism)

Clinical Indications:

• Asthma
• Atherosclerosis
• Cancer prevention, esp. esophageal cancer
• Dental carries prevention
• Hypouricemia
• Rheumatism
• Wilson's syndrome

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).