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Scientific/medical name(s): Mo, sodium molybdate, ammonium molybdate.
Molybdenum is a Group 6 chemical element with the symbol Mo and atomic number 42.Molybdenum does not occur naturally as a free metal on Earth, but rather in various oxidation states in minerals. The free element, which is a silvery metal with a gray cast, has the sixth-highest melting point of any element.
Molybdenum is a transition metal with an electronegativity of 2.16 on the Pauling scale and a standard atomic weight of 95.95 g/mol.
Proponents claim molybdenum is an antioxidant that prevents cancer by protecting cells from free radicals, destructive molecules that may damage cells. Some supporters also claim that molybdenum prevents anemia, gout, dental cavities, and sexual impotence.
Molybdenum is stored in the body, particularly in the liver, kidneys, glands, and bones. It is also found in the lungs, spleen, skin, and muscles. About 90% of the molybdenum eaten in foods is eliminated by the body through the urine.
Functions:
Molybdenum is a trace mineral that our bodies need in small amounts for chemical reactions to occur, such as the processing of amino acids. While much about molybdenum still remains a mystery, there is still we do know about this important trace mineral.
Molybdenum works in the body to break down proteins and other substances.
Molybdenum contributes to the use of iron, and where it goes, within the body. This is important, since iron is responsible for moving oxygen throughout the body for optimum health. Molybdenum is the initiator of this important function of the body and helps prevent anemia.
Molybdenum has a detoxifying effect on the body as it assists in enzyme functions. It’s a key component in the creation of uric acid, which is a waste product of protein and carbohydrate metabolism and the utilization of iron in the body.
Those who suffer from gout may benefit from increasing their molybdenum levels. Gout is caused by the insufficient metabolism of uric acid, and molybdenum can assist in this metabolic process.
Molybdenum is required for allowing cells to produce energy within the mitochondria, or powerhouse of the cells, with the help of broken-down macronutrients.
Some of the molybdenum in your body activates enzymes that are required for waste removal. The mineral helps metabolize toxins and leftover byproducts of digestion. These waste particles then get filtered out with the help of your kidneys, ultimately leaving your body when you urinate.
Molybdenum is also responsible for helping to metabolize drugs and toxins in the body, as well. Because of its role in helping to rid the body of acetaldehyde, which is a byproduct of yeast in the body, it is also generally believed that it may play an important role in preventing some forms of cancer. Acetaldehyde is also responsible for some forms of Vitamin B deficiencies, making molybdenum an important mineral in helping inhibit our body’s response to this harmful toxin. Those who drink alcohol excessively often experience increased levels of acetaldehyde in their bodies, which makes molybdenum helpful in ridding them of the side effects caused by an increased presence of acetaldehyde.
Many people who suffer from Candida use molybdenum to help treat them and rid their bodies of the yeast. The molybdenum transforms the acetaldehyde into acetic acid, which can then be naturally removed out of the body. Those who are trying to kill off all the Candida yeast in their bodies typically need to consume more molybdenum than normal to assist in this process.
Molybdenum is commonly used for those who suffer from rare metabolic diseases like Wilson’s disease, where the sufferer may not be able to process copper.
There is a type of asthma that is induced by sulfites, which are chemical preservatives found in some food items. Sulfites are often used to keep food from browning or becoming discolored. Some studies have shown indications that molybdenum may help treat this sulfite-induced asthma in those who are especially sensitive to sulfites.
Because it is also found in tooth enamel, many believe that healthy molybdenum levels help prevent the formation of cavities and even some other gum disorders.
There continues to be research made looking into how molybdenum may be able to help those who suffer from various forms of cancer as well as cancer prevention. In fact, molybdenum has been helpful in decreasing the negative effects of cancer treatment drugs in those who have used them during their cancer treatments.
While not a whole lot is known about molybdenum, one thing is clear, it has a lot of useful applications in helping the body get rid of toxins and process and metabolize certain elements.
What food molybdenum is found in:
Most of us will get all the molybdenum our bodies need simply from eating a well-balanced diet. It can be found in a variety of different foods such as milk, cheese and organ meats, cereal grains including whole grains, potatoes, leafy vegetables, cauliflower, legumes and nuts.
Foods that grow above ground tend to be higher in molybdenum than foods that grow below the ground, such as potatoes.
Beans and legumes contain more molybdenum per serving than any other food. A single cup of cooked navy beans contains 196 micrograms of molybdenum, which is more than 100 percent of the recommended daily allowance of the mineral for men and women.
Other molybdenum-rich bean and legume choices include black-eyed peas, with 180 micrograms per cup;
lentils and split peas, which both have 148 micrograms in a cooked cup;
and kidney beans, which contain 132 micrograms of molybdenum in each cup.
Almonds contain 46.4 micrograms of molybdenum per cup,
while a cup of peanuts has 42.4 micrograms.
Cashews contain slightly less -- 38 micrograms of molybdenum per cup.
A 1-cup serving of green soybeans contains 12.8 micrograms of molybdenum.
A 1-cup serving of yogurt contains 11.3 micrograms of molybdenum, cottage cheese has 10.4 micrograms per cup, and milk has approximately 5 micrograms of molybdenum in every cup.
Molybdenum is also present in water in varying amounts.
What symptoms and disorders molybdenum deficiency may cause:
Molybdenum is most highly concentrated in the liver and kidneys. These are organs which are responsible for regulating the concentrations of chemicals in the bloodstream and for removing certain products for excretion. A molybdenum deficiency can disrupt certain enzymes involved in these processes and cause buildup of unnecessary products. Laboratory tests may show an unusually low level of uric acid concentration.
The first symptoms of Molybdenum deficiency are most often related to malfunction of the liver. The symptoms of liver malfunction due to Molybdenum deficiency can include jaundice, nausea, and fatigue.
Sometimes moderate Molybdenum deficiency can result in sulfite toxicity. This usually causes the following moderate symptoms of Molybdenum deficiency: headaches, tachypnea, tachycardia, vomiting, nausea and coma.
Not getting enough molybdenum may increase your risk of esophageal cancer and lower your life expectancy, according a 2012 study published in the "Global Journal of Health Science" and a 2009 study in "Environmental Geochemistry and Health."
Problems related to excessive doses:
Molybdenum is generally considered to be safe as there is little evidence of toxicity even at several times the RDA. Excessive intake however, of more than 10 mg daily over a long period has been linked to gout-like symptoms such as pain and swelling of joints.
Other symptoms of molybdenum toxicity include dizziness, tiredness, and rashes. As molybdenum interferes with copper metabolism, too much of it can cause low red blood cell count (anemia) or low white blood cell count, due to lack of copper.
Toxic levels of molybdenum can cause goutlike symptoms, organ damage, neurological dysfunctions, deficiencies of other minerals or even seizures.
Recommended daily intakes for people in the UK:
Infants and children:0-6 mths 7-12mths 1-3 yrs 4-8 yrs
2* µg 3* µg 17 µg 22 µg
Children
9 - 13 Yrs 14 - 18 Yrs:
34 µg 43 µg
Adults 19 Years and Up
45 µg
A * indicate AI (Adequate Intake) figures taken from the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI).