Molybdenum
Commonly used for
Nutrition
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What is it? / Overview
Molybdenum is a cofactor for enzymes including xanthine oxidase and sulfite oxidase, but ordinary diets easily meet requirements and deficiency in free-living people is exceptionally rare, so supplementation rarely changes anything clinically.
How is it used? / Administration
Form: Sodium molybdate or molybdenum glycinate/amino acid chelate
Typical dose studied: 50-500 mcg/day (RDA is ~45 mcg/day; tolerable upper limit ~2,000 mcg/day)
Timing: With food
Ships deliberately trigger-empty -- searchable in the guide for someone who's heard of it, but not proactively recommended given how rarely it's actually needed. High intake is linked to elevated uric acid, hence the gout/hyperuricemia caution, and excess molybdenum can antagonize copper status.
How well does it work? / Evidence
? Emerging / limited evidence
Who should avoid it?
Avoid with: Gout / Gouty arthritis; Hyperuricemia / Elevated uric acid
Already taking it? Rarely indicated outside documented deficiency (e.g. prolonged TPN) -- there's little reason to add it on top of an ordinary diet.
Research & references
Grech BJ (2021). Mechanistic Insights Into the Treatment of Iron-Deficiency Anemia and Arthritis in Humans With Dietary Molybdenum. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
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