Molybdenum in blood
Molybdenum from whole blood (EDTA)
A trace element means that your body needs very little of it, one of them is Molybdenum.
Some naturopathic doctors recommend molybdenum supplements. They indicate that a good molybdenum level is important to treat candida infections, for example.
Dietary sources of molybdenum are whole grain products, legumes, green vegetables and brassicas, organ meats, dairy products, eggs and nuts. The molybdenum content of plant foods depends on the amount in the soil.
Molybdenum has the following functions in the body, among others:
- Purine metabolism: Molybdenum is an essential component of the enzymes xanthine oxidase and xanthine dehydrogenase. For this reason, it plays an important role in purine metabolism. Both enzymes aid in the breakdown of purine nucleic acids, eventually forming uric acid. Uric acid also has antioxidant properties and helps protect cells and tissues from singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radicals and other reactive oxygen particles. For this reason, high doses of molybdenum may in rare cases increase uric acid concentrations.
- Sulphite metabolism: Sulphite oxidase oxidizes the sulphite produced during the breakdown of organic sulphur compounds (such as taurine, cysteine and methionine) in the body. The resulting sulfate is excreted in the urine. Sulfite oxidase also binds the sulfite we ingest through food, since sulfite is sometimes used as a preservative (in e.g. wine and meat). Sulphite is for instance (partly) responsible for the unpleasant consequences of drinking bad wine. Molybdenum helps to increase the sulfite oxidase concentrations so that these reactions to sulfite are prevented.
- Aldehyde degradation: Molybdenum is a cofactor of aldehyde oxidases, which are involved in the degradation of purines and pyrimidines. Aldehyde oxidase aids in the oxidation of carbohydrates and other aldehydes, including acetaldehyde, the breakdown product of alcohol. Acetaldehyde is the substance to which many effects of alcohol consumption are attributed, more than to alcohol itself. Aldehydes are also formed as a result of fermentation processes by yeasts in the gut (e.g. Candida).
- Copper antagonism: Molybdenum is a copper antagonist. Therefore, molybdenum (in the form of tetrathiomolybdate) is the main agent of copper accumulation. Expelling copper is an important goal for some practitioners. Copper is a cofactor for very many enzymes and growth factors involved in angiogenesis (ingrowth of new blood vessels).
- Iron synergism: Molybdenum and iron have a synergistic influence on each other and are involved with each other in various ways. For example, molybdenum is a cofactor for certain iron-binding transferase enzymes and helps maintain proper iron levels in blood (haemoglobin) and muscle (myoglobin).
- Molybdenum is an important mineral in teeth and tooth enamel.
Elevated levels in the blood are found in liver diseases (decreased absorption, liver cell damage). Chronic elevations can cause diarrhea with weight loss and gout.
Reference Values
nmol/l 10.42 - 104.2
Measurement method: ICPMS
This test can also be done from urine.
