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Molybdenum Side Effects & Safety

Evidence:Moderate
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This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual results may vary — consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Full disclaimer

Safety Profile

Overall safety rating: Generally Safe

Potential Side Effects

  • Very well-tolerated at typical supplement doses
  • Gout-like symptoms at very high doses (molybdenum increases uric acid production via xanthine oxidase)
  • Copper depletion theoretically possible at very high chronic doses
  • Joint pain and swelling at doses >10mg/day in animal studies

Drug & Supplement Interactions

  • High-dose molybdenum may increase copper excretion — similar to zinc-copper antagonism
  • May affect the metabolism of acetaminophen via aldehyde oxidase pathway
  • High sulfate intake may reduce molybdenum absorption

Maximum Dose

Do not exceed: 2,000mcg/day (NIH UL); well-tolerated up to this level in healthy adults

Full Molybdenum Guide

References

  1. RCTTurnlund JR, Keyes WR, Peiffer GL (1995). Molybdenum absorption, excretion, and retention studied with stable isotopes in young men at five intakes of dietary molybdenum. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. DOI PubMed
  2. ReviewSchwarz G, Mendel RR, Ribbe MW (2009). Molybdenum cofactors, enzymes and pathways. Nature. DOI PubMed
  3. Novotny JA, Peterson CA (2018). Molybdenum. Advances in Nutrition. DOI PubMed
  4. Meta-analysisDias RS, López S, Montanholi YR, Smith B, et al. (2013). A meta-analysis of the effects of dietary copper, molybdenum, and sulfur on plasma and liver copper, weight gain, and feed conversion in growing-finishing cattle.. Journal of animal science. DOI PubMed
  5. ReviewSchwahn BC, van Spronsen F, Misko A, Pavaine J, et al. (2024). Consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and management of isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency and molybdenum cofactor deficiencies.. Journal of inherited metabolic disease. DOI PubMed
  6. Niks D, Hille R (2019). Molybdenum- and tungsten-containing formate dehydrogenases and formylmethanofuran dehydrogenases: Structure, mechanism, and cofactor insertion.. Protein science : a publication of the Protein Society. DOI PubMed
  7. Fernández-Villa C, Rigueira L, López-Alonso M, Larrán B, et al. (2025). Identification of Patterns of Trace Mineral Deficiencies in Dairy and Beef Cattle Herds in Spain.. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI. DOI PubMed
Show 4 more references
  1. ReviewBerger MM, Shenkin A, Schweinlin A, Amrein K, et al. (2022). ESPEN micronutrient guideline.. Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland). DOI PubMed
  2. Keskin H, Wang SM, Etemadi A, Fan JH, et al. (2021). Colorectal cancer in the Linxian China Nutrition Intervention Trial: Risk factors and intervention results.. PloS one. DOI PubMed
  3. Wang SM, Taylor PR, Fan JH, Pfeiffer RM, et al. (2018). Effects of Nutrition Intervention on Total and Cancer Mortality: 25-Year Post-trial Follow-up of the 5.25-Year Linxian Nutrition Intervention Trial.. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. DOI PubMed
  4. Kistner MJ, Wagner JJ, Evans J, Chalberg S, et al. (2017). The effects of molybdenum water concentration on feedlot performance, tissue mineral concentrations, and carcass quality of feedlot steers,. Journal of animal science. DOI PubMed