Molybdenum: Benefits, Dosage, Contraindications

Updated on 19 March 2025

Molybdenum (Mo) is a transition metal that most organisms need to live. In the human body, molybdenum is considered an essential trace element, found in very small quantities within the organism. The foods richest in Mo are animal products like liver, kidneys, and dairy products, ahead of plant products like legumes, cereals, nuts, hazelnuts, almonds, tomatoes, and zucchini. Atmospheric air contains molybdenum, and it is considered that humans inhale 0.1 µg of it daily. Black tea and soy reduce its digestive absorption, whereas iron, zinc, and copper have positive effects on its metabolism. The recommendations of the French Food Safety Agency are intakes of 30 to 50 µg of Mo per day for a healthy adult. Fluctuations in the molybdenum content of the organism can disrupt the metabolism of purines because it is indeed essential for the transformation of purine bases into uric acid. No true deficiencies in molybdenum are known, but in patients with absorption disorders like Crohn's disease or those fed parenterally, molybdenum deficiency has been correlated with migraines, nausea, vomiting, and tachycardia. Molybdenum deficiency could also play a role in the increased incidence of esophageal cancers in certain regions of Africa, Russia, and China.

Other name(s)

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Minerals and Trace Elements

Indications

Rating methodology

EFSA approval.

Several clinical trials (> 2) randomized controlled with double blind, including a significant number of patients (>100) with consistently positive outcomes for the indication.

Several clinical trials (> 2) randomized controlled with double blind, and including a significant number of patients (>100) with positive outcomes for the indication.

One or more randomized studies or multiple cohorts or epidemiological studies with positive outcomes for the indication.

Clinical studies exist but are uncontrolled, with conclusions that may be positive or contradictory.

Lack of clinical studies to date that can demonstrate the indication.

molybdenum deficiency
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No true deficiencies in Molybdenum are known, but in patients with absorption disorders like Crohn's disease or those fed parenterally, molybdenum deficiency has been correlated with migraines, nausea, vomiting, and tachycardia. The recommendations of the French Food Safety Agency are intakes of 30 to 50 µg of Mo per day for a healthy adult.

Posologie

Orally

30 - 50 µg

Nutritional deficiencies in trace elements
Trace elements: role and advice from the pharmacist d’officine

esophageal cancer
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Molybdenum deficiency could play a role in the increased incidence of esophageal cancers in certain regions of Africa, Russia, and China.

Posologie

Orally

30 - 50 µg

Molybdenum: an essential trace element in human nutrition
Nail molybdenum and zinc contents in populations with low and moderate incidence of esophageal cancer

Properties

Essential

Molybdenum is an essential trace element. It plays a key role in the human body as a cofactor for several essential enzymes. These enzymes, such as xanthine oxidase and sulfite oxidase, depend on molybdenum for their catalytic activity. Xanthine oxidase is involved in the breakdown of certain purine compounds, while sulfite oxidase is necessary for the normal metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids. Additionally, molybdenum is also involved in the conversion of folic acid into a biologically active form.

Usages associés

molybdenum deficiency

Anticancer

In animal research, molybdenum supplementation reduces the incidence of mammary and esophageal tumors. Molybdenum acts on cancer by inhibiting cancer cell growth, stimulating apoptosis, and reducing tumor angiogenesis.

Usages associés

esophageal cancer

Safety dosage

Adult from 19 years: 30 µg - 2000 µg

The recommendations of the French Food Safety Agency are intakes of 30 to 50 µg of Mo per day for a healthy adult. Molybdenum is safe in amounts not exceeding 2 mg/day, the upper tolerable intake.

Pregnant woman from 19 years: 50 µg - 2000 µg

Molybdenum is safe when used in amounts not exceeding the upper tolerable intake of 1.7 mg/day for women 14 to 18 years, or 2 mg/day for women 19 years and older.

Breastfeeding woman from 19 years: 50 µg - 2000 µg

Molybdenum is safe when used in amounts not exceeding the upper tolerable intake of 2 mg/day for breastfeeding women aged 19 years or older, or 1.7 mg/day for breastfeeding women aged 14 to 18 years.

Infant from 1 up to 3 months: 17 µg - 300 µg

Molybdenum is safe in amounts not exceeding the upper tolerable intake which is 0.3 mg/day for children 1 to 3 years, 0.6 mg/day for children 4 to 8 years, 1.1 mg/day for children 9 to 13 years, and 1.7 mg/day for adolescents.

Child from 4 up to 8 years: 22 µg - 600 µg

Child from 9 up to 13 years: 34 µg - 1100 µg

Child from 14 up to 18 years: 43 µg - 1700 µg

Plantes ou autres actifs

Molybdenum: moderate interaction

Molybdenum can form poorly absorbed compounds in the intestine with copper, thus reducing the absorption of both minerals.

Conseil scientifique