Nutrients
Molybdenum
Mo
Included in Complete.
Compare membershipsMolybdenum helps a few key enzymes do their job.
Molybdenum is a trace mineral your body uses to build a cofactor for a small group of enzymes. These help break down sulfur-containing amino acids and process some medications and other compounds.
Most people get enough molybdenum from everyday foods.
Legumes, whole grains, nuts, and liver are good sources. Low molybdenum hasn't been seen in healthy people eating a regular diet. The few known cases involved a rare inherited condition or long-term intravenous feeding without molybdenum.
Molybdenum isn't assessed in routine care, and it isn't clear how well blood levels reflect how much your body has. Research on what a blood result means for health is limited.
Questions
What does a higher molybdenum result mean?
In healthy people, extra molybdenum from food is usually cleared quickly in the urine. One older study, in a region with very molybdenum-rich soil, linked very high intakes to joint pain and higher uric acid. Your clinician may look at your uric acid and kidney results alongside it.
Is a low result a concern?
A low result on its own is hard to interpret, because it isn't clear how well blood levels reflect molybdenum status. A licensed nurse practitioner reviews every result and can flag anything worth discussing.