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Molybdenum — Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who might benefit from molybdenum supplements?

Most people get adequate molybdenum from food. Those who might benefit include: individuals with sulfite sensitivity (headaches or asthma triggered by wine, dried fruits, or preserved foods), people on very restricted diets, and those undergoing certain detoxification protocols. It is also commonly included in comprehensive mineral and multivitamin formulas at low doses.

Can molybdenum help with sulfite sensitivity?

Theoretically yes. Sulfite oxidase requires molybdenum to convert sulfites to harmless sulfate. Some practitioners report improvement in sulfite-sensitive patients with molybdenum supplementation at 100-500mcg daily. However, this is based on clinical observations rather than rigorous controlled trials.

Is molybdenum deficiency common?

No. Molybdenum deficiency is virtually unknown in free-living humans. The RDA is only 45mcg, and a typical Western diet provides 100-300mcg daily from legumes, grains, and nuts. The only documented case of dietary molybdenum deficiency was in a patient on total parenteral nutrition (IV feeding) without molybdenum.

Full Molybdenum Guide

References

  1. (). Molybdenum absorption, excretion, and retention studied with stable isotopes in young men at five intakes of dietary molybdenum. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. DOI
  2. (). Molybdenum cofactors, enzymes and pathways. Nature. DOI
  3. (). Molybdenum. Advances in Nutrition. DOI